Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-09


me of her husband, and l began to wonder
whether it was not all a dream, when one
day Colonel NJ. asked me to call at his house
in the evening. We sat in the same parlOr
and after some general chat the Colonel said
81 hope you have not spoken to any one
about that conversation here two month:
ago. | became satisfied that my position
was not sound"
"NIy dear husband, why don't you speak
frankfy?"
"Well," said the man, "the fact is, my no
tions about a wife's place in home were,
am afraid, just little old fashioned"
"John, dear, why don't you tell the doc
tor just what you have told me-"
"Well, well, the fact is my conduct wa:
outrageous, and deserved to be abandoned
by the best wife in the world. | have asked
her forgiveness hundred times, and now
wish to ask yours for that rudeness. Let il
be forgotten. was wrong and my wife was
all right. There, Mary, will that do y"
eyes, my darling, that is very good
though not quite so gracious as you prom
ised; but then you great, awkward men
can't do anything very we'll"
The reading club had taken on fresh life
"Dear John" was always present, and while
very happy in the sunshine of his warm
hospitality, the young men had no idea how
long they had been walking over volcano
l was very curious about Mr.. Ms CONVEX
sion. Mrs. NJ. must have known it, but
said nothing, and she was not the sort OF
person that one felt at liberty to question
"A year later Colonel NJ. and myself became
very intimate and spent many hours in con.
fdential chats. In one Of these, [ begged
him to tell me how he was changed from
such terrible lion to such gentle lamb.
81 have often intended to tell you all
about that" he said. "That night, after
you and father left, my wife said to me:
"'You have wronged me every day since
we were married. [ have done wrong in
permitting it. From this hour all must be
changed. Everything that concerns our
home shall take into my hands. l shall
invite any one ! choose to visit here, GO
back to my own church, have my own cook
again, and, in brief, take the entire man.
agement of our home. You must choose
between this and the disgrace and suffering
of separation Then she threw herself
on her knees at my very feet, and pleaded
as l have never heard any other person
stinacy, but conviction and purpose. She
clung to my legs and would not let me 60.
Her face, as she looked up, finished me. |
took her up and told her that / would never
with her again, and l never shall.
I manage here, and she manages there. l
ask no questions, and my home has become
a little heaven. It is the only way. Iwon-
der that did not see it before. am now
satisfied that husband is happy in his
home, just in proportion as his wife reigns.
If she takes the entire responsibility, she
will do wonders; but if the husband keeps
the reins in his own hands, and she feels that
the responsibility does not rest upon her,
there is wretched failure. l came very
near fatal blunder, and l ought to thank
you for helping me out | know twenty
men in this village who are not happy in
their homes, because they try to divide
home responsibilities with their wives. Not
every wife is wise, know, but the only way
to secure her best service is to place every
thing in her hands. 1t is wonderful how a
sense Of responsibility sobers, enlightens
and dignifies even common person. l
have just begun to learn how to live. AS
you know, | was married before, and | now
believe that my first wife died of a sort OF
tyranny. l treated her kindly, but allowed
her no liberty. She lived as a mere child
this is fatal, | am satisfied, to many persons.
when they feel that there is no good reason
have no good reason to live My present
wife has taught me the most important les
son of my life. l thought it was necessary
for me to look after all the expenditures, but
/ have found that leaving it with her, she
admirably. | thought that in ev-
erything she needed watching. 1t was a
huge mistake.'"
From this time to the hour of Mrs. NJ
death, nearly twenty years later, hers was a
delightful home, overfiowing with gracious
beautiful little kingdom with
a gentle queen ruling over all, and among her
subjects no one was more reverent than a
certain large, positive man, who twenty
years before had proudly declared:
"Here, am king all shall obey me-"
During her last year, when her two big
sons wentto their father with request that
they might attend a social gathering in a
neighboring town, the father asked
"Have you spoken to your mother about
it ?"
eyes," said Master John, 1--WE asked her
this morning, and she says she is afraid that
the company will not be good. But she
don't know. How can she, lying there in
her chamber. All the best fellows in the
county will be there. Please, father, let Us
60. wouldn't miss going for thousand
dollars"
"Well, boys, | don't see why you may
not, but we will go to your mother"
When those two big, hOt-blooded boys
by their father, approached the
bed on which lay the emaciated little moth
liant but dangerous party, itmust have been
Il strange and touching sight.
Mother" said John, "all of the most re-
pfnh la in, f1,n
there, and they will never stop laughing at
strings. Please, mother, let us go. | will
never, nerer, ask you to 60 anywhere again
if you will only let me 60 this time"
After the boys had exhausted themselves
with pleading, the father sent them out, and
said to his wife:
"I wish you scould let them go. | don't
believe there is any danger, and they are
fairly wild about it. l wish you would
change your mind, and say yes"
"My darling" whispered the fainting lit
tie wife, 81 can't bear any more now. My
heart aches for the dear boys, but cannot
change my mind"
The father went out to the boys and tried
to comfort them, but told them it was Of nc
use to talk Of it any more ; they must give
it up.
After Mrs. Ms death, her husband tolG
me of this scene with Il deep solemnity
which showed how completely he felt tho
absolute authority of the wife and mother
in all that concerns the social life of her fam
lily. That scene in the sick chamber must
have been watched with tender interest by
the angels. 1t is not often they witness il
this discOrdant world such Il triumph O.
goodness over physical force.
A million homes in our country now full
of discord and bitterness might be redeemed
to harmony and love if the wife could quiet
ly, patiently, firmly take into her hands thu
complete management Of her home. 1t j:
her rightand her duty. The struggle wou(