Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-07

I
" Far from II, my son, only trifle
hasty and apt to speak before you
weigh your words. But to make you
see the importance of never setting me
as q model before her, | will tell you
the story of just such another girl whom
| know. Like Jessie, she was the
youngest of her family, and INDUCED in
every whim. At eighteen she married
grave, scholarly man who had just re-
turned from over the seas to take pos
session of large properly in his native
land.
I" He was one who had been much
courted in society, who had the entire
of many of the best families of the old
world and had spent much time in En-
glish, French, and German country
houses. His tastes, however, turned
more on domestic than public life, and
he determined TO make his home per-
feet in its way All that money could
do TO beautify it was done; so when he
opened its doors to his girl-bride, it
seemed to her an earthly paradise. In
few months, however, thorns began to
work their way through the rose.strewn
path, for her husband insisted on hay
ing the house conducted on the plan Of
the English country-seat, and as the
young wife was totally in the dark con-
cerninR the difference between the cut
sine of q cottage and that of mansion,
she at first willingly consented to be
taught. 1t was not long before every
thing done in the house had to have the
authority of Lady Mary this or Lady
Jane that, until the poor child scarcely
a tg lt,aN hn v.la,. -, 4,
manner approved by some stately dame
for whom she entertained vague dread.
She should not even manage her
servants according to her own ideas,
but had volume of "Advice to Young
Housekeepers regarding Servants" by
Lady Susannah Shoroughton," always
at her elbow to turn TO in all times OF
perpleXity.
For time the young wife, believing
implicitly in her husbands infallibility
regarding domestic management, and
painfully conscious of her own igno-
rance, fully entered into his plans for
her enlightenment. But after a
time a dim idea that it might be pleasant
to govern her own home without the
aid of so many immaculate house-keep-
ers took possession of her and she said
so to her husband. He looked up from
the pile of papers which strewed his
study table, and gravely asked her if in
so short time she had thoroughly mas
tered all the principles in the Library
of Domestic Economy which he had
provided for her. What could the poor
child do but go back to the old routine
but in poor, dispirited way, trem-
bling every time a meal was served lest
the manner of serving should lack au-
thority in one of the big books over
which she had so often cried her bright
eyes dim, and quaking every time visit
ors come, fearing she would not have
every thing to please the morbid foreign
fancy of her husband, who all the time
loved his wife, and would give half his
fortune to see the roses blush on her
cheeks once more.
Two years of this wearing life told
strangely on her never very robust
frame, and physicians ordered her to
the mountains. What vigor she re-
gained there was soon used up in the
old routine when she returned home.
Seeing that the strain was too much for
her, her husband sent for his STEP
mother to come and stay with them for
a while. Unlike the traditional STEP
mother, she was lovely woman, young
er than her step-son, always fortunate,
and never having had much to cloud
her spirits, unless it was the death of
the old man whom she had married out
of gratitude, she was just the one for a
companion. OF a quick, observant
mind, she very soon detected the cause
of the young wife's condition, and lost
no time in impressing it on her STEP
| sons mind. Never was man more as
tonished and harder to convince. He
had done it all out of good motives, and
could not see why they failed. Finally,
he was persuaded to allow the Library
of Domestic Economy to be consigned
to the flames, and the doctrine of free
thought and action to replace the Ste
reotyped rules of the various noble au-
thoresses. When his wife recovered
from = long tedious illness which en-
sued, he was thoroughly convinced OF
his mistake. After the marriage of his
mother, which took place as soon as his
wife was able to attend to her house
hold duties again, he gave mp all pre-
tentions to domestic supremacy, and
through the many happy years which
followed she was queen of her home and
of her husbands heart"
She paused, and Phil, laying his hand
on the heavy, silvered braids of hair
which waved back from her brow, said
gently:
"Their names, mother, dear"
"You may guess them; but it does
not signify, as the story is a true one
There was silence for a moment, when
Phil said:
81 thank you for the story, mother,
and let me assure you that Jessie shall
never be circumscribed and ruled by
me in the domestic life. | agree with
you that in that department, the wife
should be supreme, and experience will
teach all that is necessary, and prom.
ise never to pain her by unkind criticism
She shall never suffer from models, as
you, mother, dear, have done"
But it ended right for me; you see,
experience can teach both," she an.
swered, with smile, as she rang fol
lights.
The wedding was solemnized in due
time, and with great elegance, and the
young couple set about housekeeping
Immediately on their return from theiI
somewhat extended trip. OF course,
Jessie made many mistakes, both seri,
Gus and ludicrous. But never an unkind
nor hasty rebuke passed her husband:
lips, and in time she overcame her diff
culties through his kind suggestions
and her own sunny disposition, which
allowed no obstacle to overcome her
and would not for all the gold of Ophil
allow a creak in the wheels of her daily
life to cause shadow between herself
and husband. d.-RocheSter Sunday Morn
ing Herald.