The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-29
Devoted Wives.

WHICH III III VI thS
prove her love by bravery and self
denial, to the present day, is repiete
with instances of conjugal affectloH and
heroic virtue in woman we ali re-
member the story of Eleanor, Queen OF
Edward l., who disregarding all danger
to herself. extracted with her own lips
the poison from a wound the king had
received from a poisoned arrow while III
Palestine. Then we have that remark
able instance. the devoted attendance OF
t re wife of Sir Walter Raleigh to quote
nim. Not only did she share with SIR
Waiter the. privations and sufferings or
his cruel twelve years Incarceration,
but, after his execution, renamed his
FAITHFUL widow for twenty years IN
deed, to the hour of her death. The
quick wit and clever acting OF Marie,
wife OF the celebrated Grotlus, liberated
him from his Imprisonment In the Gas
tie Louvestine. He had been permitted
to receive his books III a large trunk,
and these were often exchanged Tor
oilers through the same medium. his
vile, observing that the guards grad
ually ceased to examine the trunk, and
having Ii a lie a number of holes In DIT
terent places to admit of the air, IN
duced Grotius to place himself within.
che closed the trunk, and when the
guards entered she stood by the curtains
OF the bed, teigning much distress at
the lndisposition of her lord. The ruse
was successful, and from her own con
f.ssion the authorities learned the
means of escape she was not punished,
uu, a.luwed to rejOIn her husband III his
liberty. Many such instances occurred
in france during the reign OF terror.
Among others, that Of Madame Lava
lette. who effected her husband 5 rescue
b taking his place in the condemned
cell. When the chiefs of the different
departments were trying to vlndlcate
themselves to the king from any blame
~ the escape, his majesty coolly replied,
& do not see that anybody has done
his duty, except Madame Lavalette.
No la,er than 1856, a drama full OF
s .lemn sweetness was enacted lmOst III
our midst, too, proving not only the
strength OF witely devotion and courage,
but that IA woman, when taught, can.
e:en under the most adverse clrcum-
$ ances, as well stir a ship as ply a nee
uIe. 1 refer to that bright girl OF for
times prosperous home in East Boston
who married the gallant Capt. Patton.
~. The nrst days OF their honeymoon he
was offered a magnificent command,
winch being refused ON the plea of not
wishing to leave his bride, he received
permission in a years time again to as
sumo the position, his wife having leave
to accompany him, which she did.
From the outset she made herself the
companion, helper and pupil of her hus-
band. She studied navigation, and was
SOON enabled to take observations, steer
by the chart andkeep the ships reckon
ing. The inst mate was the captain sene-
l.y ON board, who for some reason of his
own was bent on carrying the ship into
VALPARAISO, which would have been in
direct disobedience of orders, and have
COMPROMISED the honor of the captain.
Before reaching Cape Horn, Capt. Pat
tons health began to decline, until he
was taken down with violent fever,
which in a few months ended in hope
less insanity. Now was the opportunity
for the mate to achieve his purpose,
and he commenced by trying to intiml-
date the heroic wife OF his captain,
threatening her with the responsibility
o. lite on beard, her own included,
II she presumed to interfere. She re-
niied thai her husband had not trusted
nm While he was well, and she would
not trust him now that he was i'll. She
assembled the crew, laid betole them
the facts, asking them to accept her
authority, and save the honor OF their
Tlor o,clr- ,rro
regarding almost with superstition the
eloquent appeal OF this loyal m
They soon learned to love and reverence
her a young wife, alone with men, a
raving husband to protect, a crew to
command, their lives TO preserve and an
enemy to watch; she had indeed a
herculean task before her. Nightly she
could be seen at her studies, now among
medical books which could instruct her
in her husbands case, now keeping the
reckoning and making entries in tie
log. At noon and midnight, on deck
taking observations she marked the
charts without mistakes, and CARED
the ship into lott in fine condition. The
HUSBAND bind, deaf, deliriOus and dying;
the wife cam, grave. calewOrn and
resolute.
Another incident Of wifely considera-
ito, and delicacy of feeling was that of
the young village belle in ma, ring the
honest but ~illiterate locksmith. Tie
latter was asked to sign his name,
whereupon he made his cross, and the
maiden receiving the pen did the same,
Ia the expressed astOnlshment of her
bridesmaids. ..Hush?' the wife re-
LIED. '.would you have me put my hus-
hand to the blush? Tomorrow [ will
begin to teach him writing" Love is
said to au h at locksmiths ; in this case