Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-12-03
Squaring Accounts.
City Enterprise.l


After having been married some
weeks, it came into the head OF young
husband in this city, one Sunday, when
he had but little to occupy his mind,
to suggest to his wife that they should
plainly and honestly state the faults
that each had discovered in the other
since they had been man and wife. AT
ter some hesitation the wife agreed to
the proposition, but stipulated that the
rehearsal should be made in all sinceri-
ty and with an honest view to the bet
tering of each other, as otherwise it
would be of no use to speak of the
faults to which marriage had opened
their eyes. The husband was of the
same mind, and his wife asked him to
begin with her faults. He was some
what reluctant, but his wife insisted
that he was the first to propose the mat
ter, and as he was at the head of the
house it was his place to take the lead.
Thus urged, he began the recital. He
said:
My dear, one of the first faults 1 OBJ
served in you after we began keeping
house that you a good deal neglected
the tinware. You didn't keep it scour-
ed as bright as it should be. My moth
er always took great pride in her tim
ware, and kept it as bright as a dollar
am glad that you have mentioned
il, dear, said the wife, blushing lit
tie; hereafter you shall see no speck on
cup or pan. Pray proceed
i have often Observed said the bus-
band, that you use your dish rags a
long time without washing them, and
then finally throw them away. Now
when at home, / remember that my
mother always used to wash out her
dish rags when she was done using
them, and then hang them up where
they could dry, ready for the next time
she would need Them
Blushing as before, the young wife
promised to amend his fault.
The husband continued with most
formidable list of similar faults, many
more than we have space to enumerate,
when he declared that he could think
of nothing more that was worthy of
mention. ..-.. Il
Now,' said he, my dear, you begin
and tell me all the faults you have OBJ
served in me since we have been mar
ried.' .....-.
The young housewife sat in silence;
her face flushed to the temples, and
great lump came in her throat, which
she seemed to be striving hard to swal-
low. ...
Proceed, my dear; tell ME all the
faults you have observed in me, SPAR
ing nOnen
Arising suddenly from her seat, the
little wife burst into tears, and throw
ing both arms about her husbands
neck, cried:
My dear husband, you have not
fault in the world. If you have even
one, my eyes have been so blinded by
my love for you that as long We have
been married | have never once OBJ
served it. In my eyes you are perfect,
and all that you do seems to me to be
done in the best manner and just what
should be done.'
But, my DEAR said the husband, his
face reddening and his voice growing
husky with emotion, Just think; have
gone and found all munner of fault with
you. Now do tell me some of my
faults; know have many-ten times
as many as you ever had or ever will
have. Let me hear them. t-- .
Indeed, husband, it is as / tell you;
you have nota single fault that can
see. Whatever you do seems right in
my eyes; and now that know what
a good-for-nothing little wretch l am,
/ shall at once begin the work of re-
form, and try to make myself worthy
of you.' -..-.--.-.-..
Nonsense, my dear, you know some
times l go away and leave you without
any wood cut; I stay up town when
ought to be at home; spend my money
for drinks and cigars when ought to
bring it home to you; Il
No you don't, cried his wife; you do
nothing of the kind. I like to see you
were you to do otherwise than just ex-
actly as you dOp
God bless you, little wife!' cried the
now thoroughly subjugated husband;
from this moment you have not fault
in the world Indeed you never had
fault; l was but joking-don't remein-
ber word l said = and he kissed away
the tears that still trembled in the little
wOlDan's eyes. -1s.J e..
Never again did the husband scruti-
nize the tinware nor examine the dish
rag-never SO much as mention one OF
the faults he hal enumerated; but soon
after the neighbOr women were won't
to say:
1t is wonderful how neat Mrs.
keeps everything about her house. Her
tinware is always as bright AS new
dollar; and I do believe she not only
washes but irens her dish-ragsv = And
the neighbor men were heard to say:
What steady fellow NJ has got to
be of late; he don't spend dime where
he used to spend dollars, and Can never
be kept from home half an hour when
he is not at work. He seems always to
worship that wife of his