Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-08-26
Mrs. Tilton's story.

d" | understood very well said she, "that
| was not to have the attention that many
wives have. His talent and genius must
not be narrowed down to MYSELF She was
nothing in her own eyes but common
place little woman, aud it was enough if
stray beam Of the glory which radiatcd
from her hero's presence fell across the
humble figure following roverently behind
him. If he left her uunoticed while he was
making fame, aud filling his little world
with beautiful phrases, she accepted her
lowly lot in meek contentment. Ifhc bade
her 90 with him into public places she
obeyed without word, and stood aloof in
the midst of the throng, that she might not
disgrace him with her simple manner and
her homely speech. To watch her lord and
master shining IN the company Of brilliant
takers, and wits, and essayists, and poets,
was happiness enough for her. To make
luxurious and refined home for this gifted
being and his grand friends she was willing
to 60 cold and hungry. Whatever may
have been her faults, it is easy TO see that
she had tender heart and a sympathetic
nature. How many sad hours must there
have been as she looked back to those early
days when the young reporter knew no wo-
man more accomplished than his girlish
wife, no pleasure more intoxicating than
her society, no glory greater than to win her
love. But she never complained that he
gradually forgot his quiet little worshiper
while he was busy setting the world to rights
and making name for himself" She
] IL 4 4 1
keep away from him when his 6ue company
came, or scoldod about the uncongenial at.
mosphere Of his home, where there was no.
body but a simple wife and children to min
lister to his ambitious spirit, This was no
common man. 1t was creature whose
=" talent and genius must not be "nar-
rowed down to the ordinary domestic
duties, as being destined for the pride of
the lyceum and the admiration Of advanced
tea.tables and privileged in consequence
to be moody, cruel, and dissatisfied at home.
Poor woman, how she nursed his vanity
and sefshness Little by little, he got
farther and farther away from her. He
needed literary companionship, and she was
not literary. lie yearned for the society
Of bold thinkers, and radical reformers of
every eccentric variety, and she was only
an old-iashioned body who cared more for
the freside than for the crowded hall, and
wanted somebody to love her. Loud-voiced
women came to confront her at her own table.
Blatant prophetessos made her parlors hid
eous. The map>.gho had taken her for bet
ter or for worse began to discuss her fall
ings, and to question her honor in the COM
pany of salacious social revolutionists.
Anybody might have foreseen the end
The hero stalked through two cities, exhib-
iting his sores, any praying the world to
behold how he was dishonored, while tho
wife ran heart-broken to the cemetery, and
threw herself upon the graves of her chill
dren.
To learn the lesson of this domestic
history, it is needless TO know who has
sinned or how much has been forgiven.
The first fault is plain enough There is
no such thing as social prosperity and hap
piness which does not rest upon the purity
aud union Of the family What shallow
charatans are those who seek to raise the
condition of women by crushing their own
wives, while they turn neat phrases in the
newspapers and round sonorous periods on
the platform. What poor fools are the
vain and giddy orators and essayists who
look for the golden age of a renovated So
ciety, while they waste their domestic for
tunes and hout the homely duties which lie
at their very hand Tribune.