The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-18
Wife and Sweetheart.
BY EMILY R srErNrsrEL.

Not a great while ago two gentlemen
were walking down the street, and
when they came in the vicinity Of one
of our florists, the younger Of the two
pedestrians exclaimed:
"HOld on a minute. / want to go in
here and order a bouquet"
He turned and entered the florists
establishment, while the other grum-
biingly followed, saying:
"We'll miss that boat, Henry, sure :"
"No; we have an hour aud half yet, ."
the other replied, ordering such flowers
as be desired arranged into his bouquet,
and giving directions where to have il
sent
The older man, usty-visaged, merry
eyed, practical looking individual.
watched the process with deep interest
q moment, then asked his companion: /:
"What are you sending such perisha-
bic stuff out there for 2i
"Well, 1 really don't know, Hart, un-
less it is because Miss - is fond of
flOwers-or perhaps | am Influenced by
the more selfish motives Of wishing to
remind the lady of my existence for a
day or two after leave-taking," the
young man replied. laughiugly.
"TOmfOolery Expensive nonsense
You had better invest your money ia a
Dutch cheese; irll last longer. But,
say, Henry, what DO you suppose the
old woman would say if l run up home
with one Of them things ?"
"What, a cheese %
'You cursed fool, no Mister, Just
make me upa bunch of flowers like that
one in your hand. Maybe they'll please
the old lady. Never mind the Expense,
but hurry up; times shOrt.n
Take this one and run up with IT,
He can make up another for me. I'll
meet you on the boat in an hour"
Prompt TO the hour the gentlemen
met
"Well, Hart, what did your wife say ?'i
"Say? Not a word, Henry; not a
word. She turned pale as chalk, looked
up at me startled-like, then burst out
crying; something in her look reminded
one of the old days. What odd mortals
women are, anyway, Henry. But Pm
kinder glad 1 took them posies to the
old lady"
Then be seated himself on a chair,
with els feet resting on the highest
round Of the stove in the gentlemen's
cabin, and gave his thoughts a holiday.
all their own.
wonder il they went back fifteen or
AWNhAg gGAA5f AAAD the uEAuOW OF an al
most forgotten past, when this same
"old woman was a fresh aud saucy
girl, that "olber partn OF him which
completed his life, while he never once
realized that such was the case, but,ac-
cepted the possession as a matter Of
course. Surely he was right when he
said old women are todd mortalsU
Young or old, high or low, simple or
sublime, in one degree Of nature they
are all akin they want TO be loved, aud
want something upon which 10 lavish
that rich and abundant attribute of
their existence.
AHeeton Is TO woman what the re-
freshing, animating dew Of heaven il 10
the absorbing, verdure-giviug earth.
doW many perishing filters in that
'old woman" heart may not have re-
vived at this simple act Of affection from,
her husband Her surprise and sudden
burst of tears proved such gentle
thOughtfulness was not eustomarv
Like thousands upon thousands oi
wives, her life had probably drifted into
the matter of fact" course. She NAV
not have been subjected to blows OF
curses, or want Of auy kind, physically;
nevertheless, her life may have been
barren and unrefreshed by those lit
tie tokens that women prize above
everything on eartb-those very little
acts that win their hearts in the first
place. and alas too often cease when
the novelty Of being married has worn
away. When the gallant manner and
witty speech is reserved for others, and
the process of fitting the matrimonial
yoke begins, aud the pair 20 plOdding
along like pair Of oxen jostling over a
blossomless field, following the practi-
cal force OF circumstances until the
haolt becomes a second nature. (The
ou OK does get little frisky Ocea-
10 women ilis plodding life Is very
S--,.s,l ~ mes. II Is hard TO get well
ULoAeu .t INTO logeless yoke, when
tnougRuul coursesies CEASE ana tboir
anectlons aud wifely duty are taken for
granted. Many amiable women l,ecor,,a
restive then, and not unfreIa NH, ~ AZ
vesop into first-class "scoldsi ,, n..,. .''g.
their loving IS one long, bitter JjssD-
pointment. Others, again, become ~
signed and accept their lot as the dot -
woman" but witness the deptb Of tbai,
quiet sorrow, by some unexpected a.,
tention on the part Of the husband lii,
that "impulse" Of the bouquet.
Why is it that in becoming husband
men cease TO be friends TO the womer
they marry? The elements of tender
ness may continue TO exist, but il I
true beyond dispute that the delicat
consideration inspired by genuin
friendship is left outside Of home in tn
majority Of marriages. And this is th