The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-11-12
A Matrimonial Lecture.

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. After
some hesitation the wife agreed to the
proposition, but stipulated that the re-
hearsal should be made in all sincerity
and with an honest view to the betterin"
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.
ne was somewhat reluctant, but his
wife insisted that he was the first to pro-
pose the matter, and, as he was at the
head of the house, it was his nlacc 10
take the lead. Thus urged, he began the
recital He said:
My dear, one of the first faults / OBJ
served in you after we began keeping
house was that you good deal neglected
the tinware. You didn't keep it secured
as bright as it should be. NV mother
always took great pride in her tinwarc,
and kept it as bright as a dollar"
am glad that you have mentioned
it, dear, said the wife, blushng little:
thereafter you shall see no speck on cup
or pan. Pray proceed"
have often observed" said the hus-
band, that you use your dsh-racs a
long time without washing them, and
then finally throw them away. Now,
when at home, l remember that nv
mother always used to wash out her
ulsilrags when she was done using
them, and then hang them up where
they could dry, ready for the next time
she would need them"
Blu>hing as before, the young wife
promised to amend this 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 men,
ton.
Now said he, "my dear, YOU begin
to 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 a
great lump came in her throat, which she
seemed to be striving hard to swallow.
Proceed, my dear; tell me ali the
faults you have observed in me, sparing
monet"
Arising suddenly from her seat the
little wife burst into tears, and throwing
both arms about her husbands neck
cried:
My dear husband, you have not a
fault in the world. If you have even
one my eyes have been so blinded by nv
love Tor you that as long as we have been
married have never once observed it,
In my eyes you are perfect, and all that
you DO seems to ME to ue done in he
best manner and just what should be
DONE"
" But, my DEAR" said the husband, his
face reddening and his voice growing
husky with emotion, lust think; have
gone and found all manner 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"
Indeed, husband, it is as tell you;
you have not single fault that l can
see. Whatever you do seems right in
my eyes; and now that / know what q
good-for- nothing little wretch I am. I
shall at once begin the work of reform.
ana try to make myself worthy of you."
Nonsense, my dear; YOU know some.
times 60 away and leave you without
any wood cut; l stay up town when
ought to be at home; spend my money
Tor drinks and cigars when l ought to
bring it home to you; l."
No, you DON'T" cried his wife; "you
DO nothing OF the kind. | like to see
you enjoy yourself; l should be un-
nappy were you to do otherwise than
Just exactly as YOU dol"
God bless you, little wifcw cried the
now thoroughly subjugated husband;
" from this moment you have not a fault
in the world! Indeed, you never had a
iault; l was but joking-don't remem-
Der word said" and he kissed awav
the tears that still trembled in the little
woman's eyes.
Never again did the husband scrutinize
the tlnware nor examine the dish.rag-
never SO much as mention one of the
faults he had enumerated; but soon
after the neighbor women were wont to
say:
ut is wonderful how neat Mrs.
keeps everything about her house. Her
tinware is always as bright new dollar;
and | do believe she not only washes |
but irons her dish-ragv' And the neigh
Dor men were heard to say: "What a
steady fellow M has got to be of
late; he don't spend a 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 almost to wor-
ship that wife of his."-VHysnio City