Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-18
COurtship After Marriage.

''Now, this is what call comfort, y
said Madge Harley, ,as she sat down by
her neighbor's fire one evening; 'here
you are at your sewing, with the ket-
tie steaming on the hob, and the tea
things on the table, expecting every
minute to hear your husbands step,
and see his kind face look in at the
door. All if my husband was but
like yours, Janet.
"He is like mine in many of his
| ways" said Janet, with a smile, "and
if you will allow me to speak plainly,
he would be still more like him, if you
would take more pains to make him
comfortable"
''What do you mean ?" cried Madge.
"Our house is as clean as yours; 1
mend my husbands clothes and cook
his dinners 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 can be"
''As happy as can be on earth" said
| her friend, gravely; Eyes, and shall /
tell you the secret of it, Madge?"
81 wish you would" said Madge,
with deep sigh. Its 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" exclaim-
pI Mo1rvo in SGflof h11Chonlo
care for that sort of thing %
"For love, do you mean ?" asked
Janet.
'Yes; 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 a
wife as a 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.
"No, because your husband is diff
ferent, and values his wife's love,
while John cares for me only as his
house-deeper.
ST don't think that" said Janet, cal
though know that he said to my hus-
band the other day that counting time
was the happiest of mans life. Will
liam reminded him there is greater
happiness than that, even on earth, if
men but give their hearts to Christ.
I know John did not alter his opinion,
but he went away thinking OF his
courting time as Joy too great to be
exceeded"
"Dear fellow !" cried Madge, smil- |
ing through her tears; 81 do believe
that he was happy then. I remember |
[ used to listen for his steps as [ sat
with my dear mother by the fire,
longing for the happiness of seeing
him."
''Just so,' said Janet; edo yon ever
feel like that now ?''
Madge hesitated.
"Well, no, not exactly"
'And why not ?"
sOh, I don't know" said Madge;
married people give up that sort of
thing"
Glove, you mean ?" asked Janet.
''No, but what people call senti-
mental" said Mrs. Harley.
''Is longing to see your husband
sentimental? ?" replied Janet.
"But some-.people are ridiculously
foolish before others, reasoned
Madge.
"That proves they want sense. I
am not likely to approve of that, as
William would soon tell you; all I
want is that wives should let their
husbands know that they are still
loved"
'sBut men are so vain," said Madge,
''that it is dangerous to show them
much attention.
''Oh, Madge, what are you saying?
Have you, then, married with the no.
ton that it is not good for John to be-
lieve that you love him p
mo, but it is not wise to show that
you care too much for them"
''Say I and him; do not talk Of hus-
bands in general, but of yours in par
ticular."
'sHe thinks quite enough of himself
already, assure you"
'sMy dear Madge," said Janet, smil-
ing, s'would it do you any harm to re-
ceive a little more attention from your
husband"
'Of course not. [ wish he'd try"
and Mrs. Harley laughed at the idea.
"Then, you don't think enough Of
yourself already? And nothing would
make you vain, [ suppose ?"
Madge colOred, and all the moro
when she perceived that William Mat
son had come in quietly and was now
standing behind Janet's chair. This,
of course put an end to the converse
tion. Madge retired to her own home
to think of Janet's words, and to con-
fess secretly that they were wise.
Hours passed before John Harley
returned home. He was a man Of
good abilities, and we'll to do in the
world; and, having married Madge be-
cause he truly loved her, he had ex-
pected to have happy home. But,
partly because he was reserved and
sensitive, and partly because Madge
feared to make him vain, they had
grown very cold toward each other
so cold that John began to think the
ale-house Il more comfortable place
than his own freside.
That night the rain fell in torrents,
the winds howled, and it was not until
the midnight hour had arrived that Har-
ley left the public house and fastened
toward his cottage; he was wet through
when he atlength crossed the threshold;
he was, as he gruffiy muttered, fused
to that;" but he was not used" to the
tone and look with which his wife
drew near to welcome him, or to find
dry clothes by a cracking fire, and
slippers on the hearth; nor to hear no
reproach for late hours and dirty foot
marks, as he sat in his armchair.
Some change had come to Madge, he
was sure. She wore dress he had
bought her years ago, with neat
linen collar around her neck, and had
cap trimmed with white ribbon, On
her head.
"You're smart, Madge," he exclaim-
ed, at last, when he stared her for
some time in silence. "Who has been
here worth dressing for tonight"
Madge, half laughing.
81? Nonsense; you didn't dress for
mei' cried John.