The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-01-11
Home Secrets.

Possibly in the whole range OF human
characters there is none more despicable
than that of one who acts as spy or
meddler in family matters. There is
certainly none who exerts more deadly
influence ON the peace and happiness of
home. Young couples above all will
find the acu uaintance of such person
almost fatal, and the sooner the connec-
ton between them and such officious
outsiders is severed the better. No mat
ter how perfect and angelic lovers 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 human if they did
not discover some slight causes OF provo
cation with each other. Such things are
as different from what we call strife or
quarreling as a summer breeze IS from
cyclone, but let one of these otficious
people who delight in prying into family
matters know of them, and the breeze
may possibly become a cyclone before it
ends. The only safe rule is for married
folks to keep their secrets to themselves.
There is circle within every house
hold into which no outsider should ever
enter. It is the shrine, the holy OF holes,
made sacred by the great love man and
wife bear 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 husband 's-let them be ever 80 dear
should be admitted into that inner
court where the married couple should
stand alone. How many have learned
by experience what bitter thing it is to
have third person in possession OF
secret they would give their lives, al
most, to get back. When cloud seemed
to rest for q moment over the sunshine OF
their married life, when their hearts were
grieved and their tempers rutfied, they
were foolish enough to contide their
troubles to some caller, or some otiicious
friend always on hand to receive such
condolences. And then, when the cloud
passed and the sunshine came back, and
the momentary bitterness was forgotten
in the sweetness of making up. oh, what
a torture it was to know that stranger
knew all ! If all young married couples
only knew the worth of their discretion!
They needed no third person in their
love. making, and if, after marriage, they
find out, as they most assuredly will that
human beings cannot be faultless, let
them beware of taking any third person
to settle their difficulties. Let them con-
tinue to be after marriage what they
were before, all the world to each other.
If in plucking the roses of married life
thorn wound occasionally-if a hasty
word provoke an angry retort, if some
thoughtless 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 beauty and vigor. But
it is extremely sensitive, and shrlnks
from common touch, and if it is exposed
to the rude gaze and rough handling of
passers.by it will not be long-lived. Ii
married people would keep this treasure
to the end of life, let them settle their
own differences and make up with kiss
as they did in their courtship days,
and let the outside world be none the
wiser.