The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-10

| guided. Is not merely the pursuit y
| selfish qualification, but an impulse to
| ward the finest uses OF hfe. by tn
influence of love many a narrow spher'
| has been enlarged, many a mean mature
| nurred of its and upiitted t
the level of nobler possibilities, Ih'
trouble is. that 50 often 1t is a bllnt
instinct graSping at an object unsultet
70 its needs. in "A headlong, wltless way
and so creating incongruous results
that In their turn. produce endless un
haDpy seouences. The marriages O
caprice. the marriages OF convenience
the marriages of avarlce and ambition
are logically the %outgrowth OF the mar
riages of instructed passion. For the
mating of unequal natures Is a mistake,
that has its Wrapping effect upon al
future generations.
To prove this from the volumlnouS
history of matrimonial intelicitles,
be easy enough. One never has far 10
look-more's the pity-for example OF
'incompatability. And the same truth
crops out sometimes III queer pran&s IT
husbands and wives, and have no appa-
rent excuse. and can only he accounted
lO1 oI llt tIltoIN VI an 49,
Some curious instances OF this ause-
less eccentricity are on record. In II {
Il man of wealth and good position alb
sented himself from his home Tor seven
teen years. and lived during the Whole
OF the time almost within sound OF his
wife voice, without once letting her
know that he was still in existence.
There was no >olt Of excuse for his CON
duct unless one may find 1t. lntcren-
italy, in the fact that his wife was II
spirited enough To receive HIM with
open arms when he came back again.
This Is perhaps, an ungencIouS re
Election upon her, but the story argue
a wonderful magnanimity. or a
lack of womanly self-assertion. that does
not shine in with American ideas OF
faithfulwiic and he a devoted husband.
as the story goes, for some seven on
years; and two children had added
strength and sweetness to the bond be
tween them. He left her one morning
1t an earlier hour than usual. to trans
act, as he told her. some special bust
ness. At MONDAY he sent her a note.
70 the effect that his business required a
sudden departure to Holland. and !;
probable absence OF three weeks or a
Instead of going to Holland.
however, he disguised himself with a
black wig, assumed IA different name.
and rented a Dol in a little street not
stones throw from his lawful home.
There he lived in voluntary abneeation
all his rights and privileges, domestic
nd Sn1llt tor Cnynrtnn, -a,,. L: |
children sickened and died but.
hough aware of the fact, he did not
,pproach them to CRAFTY fatherly affec-
ION, or return to his wife to comfort her
n her sorrow. He saw her involved in
)ecuniary difficulties, growing out of
he doubt whether he was alive or dead.
nd preventing for a long time the ad-
ustment Of the property VIII ch he had
eft behind him; and still he made no
The only interess that he showed
II her concerns was IN a sort OF secre,
splal Of her, behind a window that
Commanded a view of her dining-room.
his window belonging t the residence
I q man with whom he made %acuuain-
NICE, doubtless, for the purpose. He
sed to visit this man frequently. and
Ike furtlve observation of his witc's
olngs and comlngs, the, guests she
ltertained, and whatever other small +.
Icts n limited inlook revealed. On
unda!ys he vent to the same church +,
ne attended, and kept himself acouain-
q with the back view OF her bonnets S,
ld mantIllas; estimated the cost oi :
perhaps, and drew his conclusions t
to her independent administration Of :
5 estate. ;
FINALLY, without any more reason fp1 5
e return than the departure. he deci- l
81 TO renew Old relations. and sent his y
re an anonymous note, requesting he,
meet Inn at a certain spot i'm a puhlic II
TX, at a gwen time. The lady. whose !
we think, could not have &
en- very keen. did not r~ecoonize bn, \
lsband handwriting. But a brother Il
to whom she laughingly showed [
! Dl!let-douX, at once declared it to le ii
;. W hereupOn the wife had th.. t
ace to faint away. Which being done is
u duly recovered from, She went viii "
brother-nl-law, and some tea-tah'e al
who were with her at the time
the place appointed; where. sI,,.
)ugh, the long-lost husband presented
n1seif, and, after saluting his Friends.
| embracing his wife, walked home
n her; and they lived together in
at harmony from that time till the Y
: OF his death -
they could is the mystery: fo :
; inconceIyable that a woman ot any W
rt could submit quietly to such an
'iit: ana enter again with any heart be
5 into the sacred relation. thai nd
n 50 Wantonly outraged. At least
woman OF the present day finds # ei4
q TO accept such a fact; but sun-
e the wives OF the past century were sin