Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-15
HOME SECRETS.

HOME SECRETS.
The following from valuable ex-
change contains so much wholesome
advice that we reproduce it for the
especial benefit of our married read
ers. Possibly in the whole range of
human characters there is none more
despisable than that of one who acts
as spy or meddler in family matters.
There is certainly none who exerts a
more deadly Influence on the peace
and happiness of home. Young
couples, above all, will find the ac-
quaintance of such a person almost
fatal, and the sooner the connection
between them and such officious out
siders is severed the better. No
matter how perfect and angelic low
ers may appear TO each other, it will
be found out after marriage that they
have their differences of opinions and
tastes, and they would hardly be hui
man if they did not discover some
slight causes of provocation with each
other. Such things are as different
from what we call strife or quarrel
ing as a summer breeze is from a cy-
clone, but let one of these officious
people who delight in prying into
family matters know of them, and
the breeze may possibly become
cyclone before it ends. The only
safe rule is for married folks to keep
their secrets to themselves. There is
circle within every household into
which no outsider should ever enter.
1t is the shrine, the holy of holies
made sacred by the great love man
and wife bear to each other, and
there they should agree to bear with
each others failings-to demonstrate
or to complain, to forgive and make
up. No schoolgirl friend of the
wife's, no college chum of the hus-
| band 's-let them be ever so dear
| should be admitted into that inner
court where the married couple should
stand alone. How many have learn
ed by experience what bitter thing
it is to have a third person in posses
| sion of a secret they would give their
lives, almost, to get back. When,
| cloud seemed to rest for moment
| over the sunshine of their married
life, when their hearts were grieved
and their tempers ruffied, they were
| foolish enough to confide their trou-
b,es to some caller, or some officious
friend always on hand to receive
such condolences. And then, when
the cloud passed and the sunshine
came back, and the momentary Bit
terness was forgotten in the sweet
ness of making up, oh, what torture
it was to know that stranger knew
all If all young married couples
only knew the worth of their discre-
ton! They needed no third person
in their love-making, and if, after
marriage, they find out, as most as
suredly they will, that being human
they cannot be faultless, let them be-
ware of taking any third person to
settle their differences. Let them
continue to be after marriage what
they were before. all the world to
each other, and if in plucking the
roses of married life a thorn would
occasionally-if hasty word pro-
woke an angry retort, if some
thoughless act be construed into I'M
kindness-let the pain be ever SO
sharp, it will cease very soon. True
love is plant of strong growth; it
will stand any amount of passing
storms and still thrive in all its beau
ty and vigor. But it is extremely
sensitive, and shrinks from common
touch; and if it is exposed to the
rude gaze and rough handling of
passers-by, it will not be long-lived.
If married people would keep this
treasure to the end of life, let them
settle their own differences and make
up with a kiss as they did in their
courtship days, and let the outside
world be none the wiser