The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-08

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and we always had company. Kate and
l would sing, and Jennie would play and
I never knew what it meant to be lone
some. SO when Tom left me alone after
supper 1 would wash up the dishes and
tidy up things and set down to wait for
Tom. And Oh, what long eveningsl [
would strain my ears and listen to every
footstep I heard; my heart would give a
great bound; was sure it was Tom; but
it would pass by and die away in the
still night. Then my heart would sink
and almost die. But when he did come
l would be so relieved and glad | forgot
to be angry, and would sit on his knee
and tell HIM how lonesome l had been.
But I began to notice that he did
not seem pleased when I complained,
and I grew gloomy and had very lite to
say, and he got to staying out later and
later. He often got up cross in the
morning and left the house without a
word. Many day l had to fetch water,
and sometimes split wood to get dinner.
You know l wasn't much of cook
when | married Tom; but he said he
didn't care-we could live on love. But
| noticed that. if the beefsteak was not
done to a turn and the toast just to his
liking, love didn't seem to take the place
of it. But after the baby came he did
seem to be like himself once more, and l
forget all the neglect and what seemed to
me like unkindness on his part, and |
felt so proud of both Tom and the baby.
But that soon grew to be an old story,
too. He scolded, and sometimes swore,
if the baby fretted at night, and after
while, he slept in the spare bed, and left
me alone to work and worry over the
baby if he was sick or restless. l grew so
weak and ill I could scarcely do my work
and take care of the baby, but had to
do it. He said his mother had seven
children, and did all the work-washing
! and all-and it was strange if l couldn't,
with only one; he couldn't see, for his
part, what l had to do, anyway. drag
ged around all summer until father
came to see me-, and he soon saw how
things were and took me home with him,
, and mother doctored me up and the girls
took care Of the baby, and 1 got strong
before Christmas.
Eat New Years I went back, and the
same evening Tom went out with the
| boys, as he called them, and never got
home until after daylight and 1 thought
he had been poisoned, he was so fear
| fully sick; but afterward learned that
he had been drinking. grew ugly and
talked hateful, and said cutting and I'M
kind things. He would get mad and say
such horrid things to me, until [ be-
lieve we learned to hate each other cor
daily. We go for days without speak
ing. l would not care if he had not
taken me from a home where l was
happy and free from care-if he had not
promised to love and care for me ten
derby. But he has blighted my life and
taken every ray of sunshine out of it.
hate him! yes, do; 1 hate himl and if
I should live hundred years 1 could
never like him again"
Don't talk so wild, and in such a
fierce mood, my child. You have indeed
tasted the bitterest part of life. Why is
it that a man will trample the heart and
love of a good woman under his foot
throw them away as worthless-I cannot
tell; but true it often seems to be, few
women marry man unless she devotedly
loves him. Most women show by their
every day life that they are willing and
glad tc give up their whole lives to the
pleasure of the man they marry. But
men of the world ought to know that
most women, if they are neglected and
forsaken by the man who ought to pro-
tect and give them the affection all
women need, that they will find plea
sures somewhere else. 1t depends en-
tirely on the woman what kinds of plea
sure they will seek. There would be
few unfaithful wives if hus-
bands were more careful of their
pleasures and ueeds-if they
would find and take time to bestow o
little of the pleasant talk, a few of the
smiles they bestow upon other women,
and spend little kind thoughtfulness
and affection upon the poor hard-work-
ing wife at home, who is toiling and
wearing out the best part of her life for
him and his children. Some women
bear the yoke patiently for years. Some
never remove it until death unclasps the
chain, and the poor, tired soul finds rest,
which she never found on earth. Some
are high-strung and quick tempered and
the man who gets such a wife doesn't get
much the best of it, sure. But, for the
sake of the little ones, women will bear
and forbear; and, my dear child, see
no other way. Try to find pleasure and
comfort in your children; bring them up
in such way that they will be q bless.
ing to you, and in after years you may
feel and say that your life has not been
the failure it now appears to YOU