Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-24
THE HUSBANDS LESSON.

sound to me, more particularly in my idle moods.
Like an unopened letter, there il mystery about
| it, and ono waits with pleasurable excitement
| to sec what is coming.
Returning homo one day earlier than usual 1
found that my wife had gone ont and while
idly waiting her return the door bell rang.
waited expectant until Mary appeared with a
note, containing request from my old friend,
| George I4.---,to ride ouh to his residence in the
country. the next day, and to bring my wife with
me. l was much pleased not so much on ac-
count of any pleasure which it might give my
| wife, but because thought needed day rec
reation. and in the lovely simmer time the
country has peculiar charms for me.
| But the next morning everything seemed to go
| wrong Alice could not accompany me, aud
could not get off AZ early az | wished conse-
quently Iwas fretfnl aud peeysh, and Alice
| seemed to reflect my humor, for she meyer
seemed 30 unamable. At length, however,
drove away, though not in very pleasant
mood. 1t was a lovely day and as l rode
along, noting the beauties of tho landscape, my
memory went back unbdden to the time when
/ wooed and won my bride. How lovely Alice
was then thought. And how happy we were,
| But that WAS long ago. No III it possible, we
have been married only threo years And
| felt sharp pang, rs contrasted the past with
| into the commonplace life We now load.
We had no serious trouble; We did not quarrel
| though when felt cross, or things did not suit
| me, took no pains to conceal it, and often
spoke harshly to Alice, who sometimes replied
| in tho same spirit and sometimes with tears.
| Yet We were generally good friends Still the
charm, the tenderness of our early love had I'M
pereeptibly vanished. / had become careless
about my personal appearance at home and Alice
was almost equally Negligent. Iier beautiful
brown hair, which hhe wore i'll the most becom
| ing curls was usually brushed plainly be-
| hind her ears, unless she WIS going out or OK
pected company.
dismissed the subject with sigh, as / drew
| up at my friends gate, tho reflection that it WAS
| the same with all married people--must be so,
| in fact for how could romance and sentiment
| find place among 80 many prosy realitiesf l
| suppose we were as happy as anybody, and yet it
was not the kind of life that / had looked for
ward to with 30 many bright anticipations.
My friend greeted me with great cordallty
| In the hall we met Mrs. L. looking fresh
| and lovely in her pink muslin wrapper, with her
| jetty hair in tasteful braidB. She reproyed me
| plsyfuly for not bringing my wife with me, chat
ted few minutes and then fitted away, while
my friend led tire way to the library. AS we en-
tered the room noticed vase of bright flowers
on the table, imparting an air of taste and cheer
| fulnesS to the apartment. | made some remarks
about it, to which my friend responded
''Yes; am very fond of flowers, and like to
sec them in the house, and as spend much time
nero, my wlle always Keeps vase OF them Oh
| the table Nh long as they last.
After dinner We walked out INTO the grounds,
which were quite extensive and most tastefuly
| arranged. There WAS a variety of iiowers i'll
| bloom, and | noticed that L---seected here
| and there the finest, until he had handsome
| bouquet.
| When we reached the house Mira. 1.--- was
| on the steps. Her husband still continuing the
conversation, gave her the flowers with smile,
and holding up spray of crimson berries, which
IQln bad hrl ,fNt1l lIlu hnht ltnf hnA
| fastened 1t among the dark brads OF her hair.
| 1t was trifling incident yet their manner ar
| rested my attention. Had been u stranger
| would have pronounced them lovers, instead OF
sober married people. All through the day
noticed the same delicate attention and defer
| ence i'll their department to each other Ihere
| WAS nothing of which tho most fastldious guest
/ could complain yet, while showing me the
most cordial attention they did not ignore each
| others existence as married people too often
| seem to do.
had never before visited my friend at hie
| country home, and very much pleased with
it. said 80, aftor dinner as we strolled out in
4 to the woods.
Eyes" he said, ~ think it is pleasant j. he
| added, "and think am contented man. Sc
| far, l am not disappointed in life"
How long have yon been married, /.
| asked.
"Ten years"
"Well," pursued, % can you tell me whence
| is the bright atmosphere that surrounds yolli
| homo? Tell me how you and your excellent
| wife manage to retain the depth of your early
| love as you seem to do2 L should think the
| wear aud tear of life would dim it somewhat
never before saw home where my ideal of do
mestic happiness was realized 1t was what
have dreamed OF, but have not yet been permit
ted to enjoy"
My friend smiled, and pointing to thrifty
grapevine climbing over neat lattice, and
loaded with fruit, said
Tho vine needs careful attention, and il
cared for it is what You see it, but If neglected
how soon it would become worthless thing
So the love which to ALL at some period, s the
most precious thing i'll llfe aud which needs &c
much care to keep it unimpaired, ID generally
neglected. All my dear fellow, it is little acte
-tritles-that 10 often estrange loving hearts
| | have always made it a point to treat my wife
with the same courtesy that characterized my
department in the days of courtshp and while
am careful not to offend her tastes and little
prejudices, am sure that mine will bo equally
| respected. Moreover, instead of treating her at
| an inferor-as a mere slave, bound to obey my
every behest-I realize the fact that she is my
equal and AZ such. has right to a voice in the
management of our daily affairs AZ l have. by
this means, my dear friend we live happily to
gether and show to those around us that there
is still in the world such thing domestic
, happiness and comfort"
That night rode homeward, pondering oyel
| what had seen and heard; and reviewing the
years of our married life, was surprised at my
| own blindness and determined, il possible, to re
call the early dream.
| The next morning, at breakfast, astonlshed
Alice by careful toilette, chatted ever the din
ner and after tea. invited her out to take IL walk
| When she came down, aiTayed in my fayort'
dress, with her hair i'll shining curls, though
she never looked loyelier. l exerted myself al
old, to entertain her, and WAS surprised to lint
how quickly the evening passed.
Iresolved to test my friends theory perfectly
and the result exceeded my most sangun
expectations. For all the little nameless eSpec
tations, 30 gratifying to womans heart and st
universally accorded by the husband, find my
self repaid thousand-fold, and advise all VIII
are signing over the non.fultllmeut of the
: early dreams, to go and do likewise; remember
ing that what is worth using ii worth keeping.
|
Fortunes wheel
About two years ago, young girl iame
Mary Rafferty, bade farewell to her childhood