Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-06-11
Praise Among the Married,


doubly sweet from the lips of those we
love. 1t chills the best feelings, awak-
ems the highest aspirations when contin-
uous sacrificing effort calls forth no
kindly returns words of cheer, of
encouragement. The snow is ever un-
impressible in the deep, hollow recessess
of the mountain cliff, where no strag-
Cling beam of merry sunshine melts it
with kisses cold and white it sleeps in
perpetual shadow, till its soft roundness
congeals into ice. And so the heart, if
forced to abide in the shadow of frowns,
under the continual dropping of hard
unkindly words, will assimilate itself
to its mate, and become sad listless
heart, lying heavily and cold in the
bosom that should be all filled with
glowing sympathies.
Husbands often do not know with
what ceaseless solicitude the duties of
wife and mother are accompanied. They
leave home early, many of them; the
routine of business, the same as it was
yesterday, and will be months to come,
is so thoroughly digested that the per-
formance is measurably without annoy
ance They have no heavy or wearing
household work to do, no fretting little
ones hanging on to their garments, now
to correct, now to instruct, while still
the busting, and the cleansing, and the
preparing of food must be going on, and
the little garments mnst be nicely fitted
and made, or all would be untidiness
and confusion. Yet how many an adroit
manager contrives to get through with
all this, willing-if she is but appreci-
ated, and her valuable services esteemed
to endure calmly the trials incident to
her lot, keeping care from a pleasant
face by merry spirit and cheerful de
meanor
But if she never hears the kindly "I
thank you," or beholds the beautiful
smile that unuttered gratitude spreads
upon the countenance of him for whom
she has forsaken all, what immeasurable
anguish will she not experience
We have often thought how poignant
must be grief; how heavy the disap-
pointment of the young wife, when she
first learns that the husband of her
choice is totally Indifferent to herstudied
efforts to please. He has many times,
in former days, praised the glossy beauty
of her sunny hair, and curled its rings
of gold around his fingers. He has gazed
in her face, until it is stamped upon the
tablets Of his heart, yet through utter
thOughtlessness-he forgets now that it
has been tailsman of goodness and
purity to him, or old associations have
made him too much their own, to play
the lover after the solemn words of Ger,
emony are spoken. He has given her
his honor, and home his name, his
means what more can she want?
Gayly as the bird upon the tree by
her doorside, does she go caroling about
her work. The day seems one long year,
but still twilight does come, and she
awaits the return of her husband. He
has, perhaps, but slender resources he
is laboring man, and their cottage is
humble and low-roofed. How light is
her step; how happy her brow. Like a
skilful painter, she has touched and re-
touched all the slender luxuries of her
home, till they seem to her like the
adornings of paradise. She has taste,
refinement, a quick perception of the
delicate and beautiful, though mayhap
she never has piled her needle at worst
ed tapestry, traced the outlines of a sin
gle tree or flower, or ELECTED sweet
sounds from harp or piano.
The hearth is bright and red, not a
speck of dust visable. She has brought
out all her boarded wealth and the ta-
| bles, the new vanished bureau, and the
armchair back, shine in snowy garni-
ture She has placed the little pictures
in the best light, hung up the wide sam
pier, her child work at school, made all
things look cheerful and bright, placed
boquet of brilliant flowers upon the
neat supper table, and another in the
fireplace, and with pleaeant anticipa-
tions she awaits his return.
+" How cheerful everything looks" she
murmurs "and how pleased he will
be He will commend my care and
taste"
Presently the well-known step draws
near she flies with a happy smile to
meet him, and together they enter their
mutual home.
What no sign of surprise, no new
delight on his features
Does he receive all her attention as a
matter of course, something looked for,
expected, easily done, and without price?
Can he not pay her the tribute of a glad
smile? Alas he does not believe in
praise; his wife must be disinterested /;
must look upon these performances as