Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-07-08
COURTSHIP AFTER MARRIAGE


by her neighbours fire one evening
"here you are at your sewing. witt
the kettle steaming on the hob, ant
the tea things on the table, expecting
every minute to hear your husbands
step, and see his kind face looking il
the door. Alb, if my husband was
but like yours, Janet"
"He is like mine in many of biz
ways" said Janet, with smile, "anC
if you will allow me to speak plainly
be would be still more like him if yor
would take more pains to make him
comfortable.
what do you mean?" cried Madge
"Our house is as clean as yours
mend my husbands clothes, and cook
his dinner as carefully as any woman
in the parish, and yet he never stays
at home of an evening, while you sit
here by your fire night after night
as happy as you can be-"
GAS happy as can be on earth,
said her friend gravely; "yes, and
shall | tell you the secret of it.
Madge ?"
81 wish you would" said Madge
with deep sigh, otis misery to live
as | do now"
SWELL, then," said Janet, speaking
distinctly and slowly, 81 let my hus.
band see that love him still, and
that learn every day to love him
more. Love is the chain that binds
him to his home. The world may
call it folly, but the world is not my
law giver."
"And do you really think" ex-
claimed Madge in surprise, "that hus-
bands care for that sort of things? ?"
"For love, do you mean 2" asked
Janet.
Eyes, they don't feel at all as we
do, Janet, and it don't take many
years of married life to make them
think of wife as sort Of maid-of-all
work"
"a libel, Madge," said Mrs. Matson
laughing; II won't allow you to sit
in Williams chair and talk So"
mo, your husband is different, and
values his wife's love, while John
cares for me only as his housekeep-
err"
81 don't think that" said Janet,
"although | know that he told my
husband the other day that counting
time was the happIest time of a mans
life. William reminded him that
there ls greater happiness than that,
even on earth, if men but give their
hearts to Christ. | know John did
not alter hit opinion, but he went
away thinking of his counting time
as a Joy too great to be exceeded"
Dear fellow' cried Madge. through
her tears 81 do believe he was very
happy then. l remember | used to
listen for his step as l sat with my
dear mother by the fire longing for
the happiness of seeing him."
"Just So" said Janet; "do you ever
feel that way now 2"
,'Madge hesitated.
"Well, no. not exactly"
"And why not?"
COB, | don't know" said Madge,
married people give up that sort Of
thing"
"Love, do you mean? ?" asked
Janet.
"No, but what people call being
sentimental" said Mrs. Harley.
Longing to see your husband is
a proper sentiment" replied Janet.
"But some people are ridiculously
foolish before Others" reasoned
Madge.
THAT proves that they want sense
| am not likely to approve of that
as William would soon tell; all ]
want is that wives should let their
husbands know they are still loved"
"But men are so vain" said Madge
"that it is dangerous to show them
much attention"
Her friend looked up.
"Oh, Madge, what are you saying
Have you, then, married with tn.
notion that it is not good for John tc
believe you love him..
"No, but it is not wise to show
you care too much for him"
"Say Il and him do not talk o
husbands in general, but of yours il
particu ar"
"He thinks quite enough of him
self already, l assure you"
"My dear Madge," said Janet smil
ing, "would it do you any harm tt
receive little more attention from
your husband ?"
"Of course not. 1 wish he'd try
and Mrs Harley laughed st the idea
"Then you don't think enough o
yourself already And nothing
would make you vain, | suppose? ?"
Madge colored, and all the mor'
when she perceived that William
Matson had come in quietly, and wa
now standing behind Janet's chair
This, of course, put an end to tn,
conversation. Madge retired to he
own home to think of Janet's word
and to confess secretly that they
WcTb Wic0.
Hours passed before John Harley
returned home. He was man o
good abilities, and we'll to do in tn
world and having married Madg
because he truly loved her, he hat
expected to have happy home. Blu
partly because he was reserved anC
sensitive, and partly because Madg
feared to make him vain, they hat
grown very cold towards each other
so cold that John began to think tn
ale-house a more comfortable plac
than his own fireside.
That night the rain fell in torrents
the wind howled, and it was not IN
I'll the midnight hour had arrives
tnat John Harley left the public
house and FASTENED toward the cot
tage; be was wet through when b
at length crossed the threshold /; b
was, as be grutfly muttered, fused t
that !" bu. be was not used to til
tone anu look with which his wit