The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-09-22
4 STORY FOR HUSBANDS.

A SIUk1 EOk HUSbANDSs
Never was a young wife happier and
more disposed to be pleased with her
nev home than the little woman whom
PhIip Birney, one bright, sunny morn
uc. introduced as mistress of the plain
brown house that stood at the entrance
Of the village of Redfield.
aIt is capable of being made lovely
little place. she observed to her hus-
band, alter quick survey of the yard,
fence and exterior generally. !" A
honeysuekle trained over that window,
md acoat of paint on the portico would
help IT wonderfully. u! Phil, shall
iske such pleasure in making our home
sttrsctiye and pretty! I have an old
Fhite dimity dress that belonged to
mother-made. before they gored the
skfts, You knew-and l mean to make
curtains out Of it for the upstairs cham
besr'
Don't be tearing up your clothes,
Kate, to furnish the house. I'm afraid
/ there wouldn't be much economy in
thai" was Phillips laughing reply as
heled the way into the house.
Kate fitted from one room to anoth-
d, chatting gaily of her plans as she
found something desirable and conven-
lent 10 each apartment cosy corner
here 10 sew in, a well-placed shelf there,
that cupboard for her dishes and this
one for the table linen-to all of which
her husband listened with o pleased
smile.
z Yes, ! shall so much enjoy keeping
ittidy and orderly she said again and
sgsin, IS the tour of the rooms was fin
hhed. And the next day the pretty
bride began housekeeping in earnest.
The furniture was cheap and plain, but
twas marvellous how CHEEKY the rooms
boxed after Kate, with few graceful
touches, had disposed of numerous
msll ornamental articles taken from
her trunk, which her nimble fingers had
iashioned before leaving the home roof.
twas wonderful, too, how much that
trunk contained. Almost every day
fhiip was called on to admire some
new thing brought up from its depths
% add brightness and beauty to the lit
lle house, until it became quite mat
ter OF course to inquire, whenever
new tin pan or other kitchen utensil
Has added to their stock, if it, too, came
out ct the trunk.
As time sped by, our young house,
Keeper found full occupation for hands
sad heart, and although her increasing
household duties, and the charge Of the
nstie one that was born to them, left
nelr traces on her pale face and bowed
shoulders, she lost none of the enthusi-
Im and genuine delight in keeping the
aouse neat and pretty, which had char
ac'er1zed the beginning of her wifely
afeer The lawn was dotted with
safu6bery, planted and cared for by her
eRn hands. The well-kept strawberry
patch, the thrifty grapevines and choice
yoang fruits were also the result of her
INDUSTRY, unaided save by the occasion
help OF the little ones, who were far
ulener hinderance than an assistance.
q and all this had been accomplished at
usadvanfage, for Mr.. Birney was q
= nsn who cared very little for these
nlngs, 4 or at least did not value them at
saeif real worth. He relished the fine
sae.rles and berries that added SO much
3 .ner bill of fare during the season of
LUIS quite as much as any one, but he
aso only vague idea of the labor and
Ase they cost his wife. He enioyed
seiling home in the evening to his clean,
vaeriy domicile, where he knew al
ss sSsss mat q palatable meal awaited him;
~, = realized dimly that the dooryard,
+. ~ us borders Of sweet alyssum and
snt phlox, was one of the prettiest
X s,SnIs m the village, but he accepted it
y as matterof course,
ns wife was q model woman in his
!. ~ q and when he sometimes noticed,
~. 4 ~ Truth does force itself on everv
- , tnat she looked care>worn and
= ~ {. oad TOE her years, it never occurred
4. L a,ln l that little thoughtfulness on
sss s part would save her MANY weary
. ,sps. he had not learned that lesson
h. h ,aany husbands need to learn, that
,..s y sraerclsing little care a wife labors
= Z. o oe materially lghtened.
,hs .lp birney would have resented
Il ii ra1 ..pulation fiercely had any one said
hsh;s ~ cruel to poor Kate, aud yet the
IL icy ~ q carrying in rim of mud on
rno,s o', 70 be ground into the sitting
Il ~ - carpet, for his weak-backed wife
tern eep out again. deserved no milder
p;sn..a aa,- ! rack was part of the hall fur
eesrss; ous 50 far as Mr.. Birney was con-
,smsa ea It might as well have been in
4 l ssS A coat thrown over the back
vas s., - or hat tossed on the floor
81 ~ sls ihvariable rule with the head
h ~ nouse, and the fact that the order
'e would Immediately leave her