Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-05-14
Aunt Ruth's Lecture.

"ALL alone, JohnY Where is KateP"
Asleep, / guess. She has headache,
believe. | will call her. Your talks
always do her good"
No, let her rest. II talk to anyone
tonight IL will be to you. have been
preparing lecture for you some time"
"What is the subject2 | am sure /
don't mean to do anything wrong"
"No, | have too.much confidence in
your Christi0n principles to think that
you intentionally err, and yet by your
seltishness-yes, downright selfishness-
you are wronging Kate, hindering her
moral and mental groYRh, crushing out
the warmth and gladness from her heart,
causing her to grow prematurely old
This sounds 70 you like harsh, unjust
judgment, but | think you will come to
acknowledge its truth"
"Give me few illustrations, Aunt
Ruth If this is true want to know it.,
for God knows | would not willingly
wrong anyone, last of all Katie"
"You were deeply interested reading
that book last evening"
"Yes.n
"Well, do you suppose Katie felt as
much interest in the work she was
busy withI She had been working
hard all day; had participated in no
pleasant conversation, had found no
time to read even q page in the book
that probably looked rs tempting TO
her us to you. You had been out
in the busy world, had come in con.
tact with other minds, but when you
came home you enjoyed your supper,
and finally the entire evening, in silence
| bringing no outside freshness to cheer
| the monOtony Of her indoor life. No
wonder her mind wandered back TO the
evenings of the long ago when she found
| you so entertaining acompanion, or that,
in contrasting the present with the piCt-
ure then sketched, disappointment made
her heart swell and her eyes so dim she
could not see the needle she was
trying to thread. 1t was all right for
you to spend the evening reading, but
| do not think you would have enjoyed
less in talking little, or sharing some
of the authors brightest thoughts with
| Katie. SO at all meal times. No mat
ter how hard she may have tried to
please you, and know your taste is al
ways consulted in preference to her own,
you never compliment her, or do your
part toward sustaining conversation. 1t
is true you are tired when you come
home, but Katie is tired, too. A few
| occasional word of commcndation or en-
couragement, would give her something
pleasant to think about while her hands
are busy with duties which are in them
selves distasteful to her, and | do not
think the effort to please would weary
you very much.
"Think of your children too. Only
too many of our ruined young lives can
be traced to silent homes
again. You enjoy many social and
religious privileges that Katie is de-
priyed of. Now why not tell her about
these things, so that she may know what
| is going on, and feel at her ease when
meeting with those whose conversation
is upon the current topics of the day?
do not believe in religious or any other
kind of gossip, neither does she, so you
need not fear to trust her, and there is q
proper way of imparting information
| pleasant and profitable as well. Another
thing. You would be dsgusted with a
slatternly wife. You enjoy tidy home
but | do not think you do your part
toward keeping it so. For instance, you
occupy two or three different chairs and
leave them out of place; tumble ovel
books and papers, leave your own things
in improper places, litter the carpet
window-ledge, etc, with various things
leave doors open when they should bC
closed and gGce Uersa. After you go out
Katie has to put things in place again
and this happens very often.
ANY woman would get tired of it, and
feel sometimes as if she were nothing
but a servant after all.
"Some wives would scold. | am mo-
sure but should, but Katie forces back
| ha 10 baf
suggest themselves, and you go on in
dulging yourself, and putting your share
of the burden upon her.
"You allow her to do work that very
few women can do without more or less
injury to their health. 1t is easy for you
to carry water or bucket of coal up
stairs, but could you assume women'S
clothes and use only woman's strength
you would find it not quite so easy"
&c am always ready and willing to dc
such chores when Katie asks me-"
"Yes, but do you suppose she likes
to ask you? Iwould do it myself before
l would time after time ask another who
knew just as well as | that it must be
done. Don't you see it is Sinking
the care upon her, as well as placing hel
in position of one who gets what i.
rightfully their own only by begging fol
it?
"One thing more and will conclude
my lecture. You are not insensible tC
expressions of affection. To men sucl
expressions are pleasure, to women
necessity. Without them the love
which may still be in the heart, will be
smothered, and its glory, which should
cast halo over toll, care and sorrow, will
be dimmed. Your love for Katie, we can
not doubt, is true and pure, but you arc
thOughtless, cold and selfish to degree
that wounds her sensitive nature keen
ly. This we see. Let me entreat you tC
examine your conduct carefully Lool
over the past, present and future, study
Katie's nature and needs, and do wha
duty and your heart bids you, and may
God bless you both. Airs q. w. French
in AdUOcdte and Guardian.