The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-05-13
Aunt Ruth's Lecture.

Aunt Ruth's Lecture.
CALL alone, John, Where is Kate,"
Asleep, guess. She has headache,
believe. l will call her. Your talks
always do her good"
No, let her rest. If talk to anyone
tonight it will be to you. l have been
preparing lecture for you some time"
What is the subject! / am sure l
don't mean to do anything wrong"
mo, have too much confidence In
your Christian principles to think that
you intentionally err, and yet by your
selfshness-yes, downright selfishness-
you are wronging Kate, hindering her
moral and mental growth, crushing out
the warmth and glsdness from her heart,
causing her to grow prematurely old.
This sounds to you like harsh, unjust
judgment, but l think you will come to
acknowledge its truth"
"Give me a 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"
swell, do you suppose Katie felt as
much interest in the work she was
busy with. She had been working
hard all day; had participated in no
pleasant conversation, had found no
time to read even page in the book
that probably looked as tempting TO
her as 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 monotopy Of her indoor life. No
wonder her mind wandered back to the
evenings of the long ago when she found
you so entertaining companion, or that,
in contrasting the present with the plct-
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 a 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 arc tired when you come
home, but Katie is tired, too. A few
moments cheerful conversation, with an
occasional word of commentator or en-
enlargement, would give her something
pleasant to think about while her hands
are busy with duties which are in them
selves distasteful to her, and l 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-
prived 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 Goes she, SO you
need not fear to trust her, and there is a
| proper way of imparting information,
| pleasant and profitable as well. Another
thing. You would be disguised with a
sla,ternly 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 over
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 be
closed and oice versa. After you 90 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 not
sure but should, but Katie forces back
the rebellious words that l know often
suggest themselves, and you go ON in
dulging yourself, and putting your share
of tn 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 a 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"
Il am always ready and willing to do
| such chores when Katie asks me-"
"Yes, but do you suppose she likes
to ask you? would do it myself before
l would time after time ask another who
knew just as well as / that it must be
|
the care upon her, as well as placing her
| in a position of one who gets what is
rightfully their own only by begging for
| it?
Gone thing more and will conclude
my lecture. You are not insensible to
expressions of affection. To men such
expressions are pleasure, to women q
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 are
thoughtless, cold and selfish to degree
| that wounds her sensitive nature keen
| ly. This we see. Let me entreat you to
examine your conduct carefully. Look
over the past, present and future, study
| katie's nature and needs, and do what
duty and your heart bids you, and may
| God bless you both."-Hrs. G. w. French,
| tn Adr0cdte and Guardian.