Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-08
4 Matrimonial Lecture.

After having been married some weeks,
it came into the head of young husband
in this city, one Sunday, when he had
but a little to occupy his mind, to sug-
gest to his wife that they should plainly
and honestly state the faults that each
had discovered in the other since they
had been man and wife. After some
hesitation the wife agreed TO the prOpO-
sitiOn, but stipulated that the rehearsal
should be made in all sincerity and with
an honest view TO the bettering of each
other, as otherwise il would be of no use
to speak of the faults to which marriage
had opened their eyes. The husband
was of the same mind, and his wife asked
him to begin with her faults. He was
somewhat reluctant, but his wife insisted
that he was the first to propose the mat
ter, and as he was ut the head OF the
house it was his place to take the lead.
Thus urged he began the recital. He
said:
''Aiy dear, one of the first faults | OBJ
served in you after we began keeping
house was that you 4 good deal neglected
the tinware. You didn't keep it secured
as bright as it should be. Ny mother al
wars took great pride in her tinware and
kept it as bright as dollar"
81 am glad you have mentioned it,,
dear" said the wife, blushing little /;
thereafter you shall see no speck on cup
or pan. fray prOceeu.
81 have often observed" ;" said the hus-
band, ''that you often use your dish-rags
a longe time without washing them, and
then finally throw them away. Now,
when at home l remember that my moth
er always used to wash out her dish-rags
when she was done using them, and then
hang them up where they would dry,
ready for the next time she would need
them.'
Blushing as before, the young wife
promised to amend this fault.
The husband continued with = most
formidable list OF similar faults, many
more than We have space to enumerate,
when he declared that he could think of
n0tlling more that vas worthy men
ton.
'sNow,' - said he, s'my dear, you begin
and tell me all the faults you have OBJ
served in me since we have been mar
ried.''
The young housewife sat in silence.,
her face flushed to the temples, and a
great lump came into her throat which
she seemed to be striving hard to swal-
low.
proceed, my dear; tell me all the
faults you havs observed in me, sparing
nOnei"
Arising suddenly from her seat, the
little wife burst into tears, and throwing
both arms about her husbands neck,
cried:
.eSIy dear husband, you have not a
single fault in the world. If you have
even one, my eyes have been so blinded
by love for YOU that rs long as we have
been married have never once observed
it. In my eyes you are perfect, and all
that yOu do seem to me to be done in the
best manner and just what shonld be
DONE
''But, my dear, said the husband. his
face reddening and his voice growing
husky with emotion, ''iust think; have
gone and found all manner of fault with
you. Now do tell me some of my faults;
/ know i have many-ten times as many
as you ever had or ever viii have. Let
me hear them.''
'Indeed, husband, it is as l tell You;
you have not single fault that L can
see. Whatever yOu do seems right in NV
eyes and now that l know what a good
for nothing little wretch l am, shall at
once begin the work of reform and try
to make myself more worthy Of yOu."
Nonsense, my dear, you know some
times / go away and leave you without
any wood cut; / stay uptown when |
ontght TO be at home; spend my money
for drinks and cigars when l ought TO
bring it home to you; l ---"
No, you don't,'' cried his wife; you
do nothing Of the kind. | Ike TO see you
enjoy yourself; 1 should be unhappy
were you to do otherwise than just exact
" as you do"
"GOd bless you little wife"' cried the
now thoroughly subjugated husband;
from this moment you have not a fault
in the world, Indeed you never had a
fault was but jeking-don't remember
A word l said!' and he kissed away the
tears that still trembled in the little wo-
mans eyes.
Never again did The husband scruti-
nize the the tinware nor examine the
1ish-rag-neYer so much as mention one
Of the faults he had enumerated; but
soon after the neighbor women were
wont to say:
''It is wonderful how neat Mrs. --
keeps everything about her house. Her
-inware is always as bright as q new
dollar; and do believe she not only
washes but even irons her dish-rags -
And the neighbOr men were heard to
say: ''What steady fellow A.
has got to be of late; he don't spend 4
lime where he used to spend dollars.
and can never be kept from home half an (
hour when he is not at work. He seems /
almost TO worship that wife of his The (
Virginia City Enterprise.