St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-10
The Health of Our Wives.
BY do LEWIS, NJ. d.


a sad, nervous invalid, when by the
death of an uncle she came into posses
sion of bonds which yielded her an an
nual income of $4,000. At once her
health began to improve, she walked
erect, and her face became radiant
Since her marriage she had become Il
beggar; and beggars are not strong in
health, noble i'll bearing, or happy in
face. Her husband was rich, and Il
good man; but careful" about his
money. He never parted with dollar
if he could possibly help it. Their
home was handsome and their table
good; but while Dora, the servant,
who dressed quite as well as her mis-
tress, was not obliged to beg for money,
Mrs. -- could not get dollar for
personal expenses without explaining,
urging-in brief, begging.
Visiting her mother in another state
she related, with many tears, the fol-
lowing story: 81 needed warm dress
i'll the autumn, but so great was my
rcpugnance to asking John for the
means that put it off till midwinter.
One evening we had company, and
John was delighted with their praise
of my singing. After we had retired,
and he had spoken very warmly of my
success in entertaining our friends,
thought the moment auspicious, and in
the most gentle way mentioned the
needed dress. John was silent some
minutes and then said:
"'Why, my darling, | thought you
were the best dressed woman among
them. Don't you think, dearest, it is
a foolish thing to 90 on adding dress
after dress, when your closet is so full
that you can hardly get into it9 If
you will take my advice, | should say
wear out some of the dresses you
already have"
"Not another word was spoken by
either of us. | did not choose to
tell him that the dress | had on that
evening was my only handsome silk,
and that my only warm wooden dress
was worn out. | could not sleep, and
before morning resolved, come what
might, would never beg again. That
vow | have kept. During two years |
have had no additions to my wardrobe,
except the wooden dress YOU sent to
me. Not one word has passed between
my husband and self on the subject.
Oh how often think of the sweet in
dependence of my life as a music teach
er. When | gave myself to John it
was easy to make me happy. | asked
but little, and you know, mother,
never shrink from care and labor. But
now that dear Uncle Eben's bonds give
me the means to clothe myself, and as
sist my nieces as | used to, shall for
give, forget, and be happy again. John
is urging me to transfer the bonds to
him, and let him take care of them fol
me-"
"My daughter, will you do it ?"
"Why, mother, | have kissed those
dear, dirty, beautiful, old yellow bonds
again and again, because they have
made it possible for me to become a
when | think how near | came to hat
ing my husband. | shall keep the
bonds in my own hands. They are
really and truly the only bonds that
bind me to life.n
| wonder if Mrs is the only
wife whose health and life have beer
poisoned by this mistake on the part o.
the husband. The husband and father
declares that all his toll and saving,
are for his family. For himself, he doe.
not care. His wife, who transmute:
dollars into precious child-muscle
brain and heart, instead of being
obliged to resist her husbands impor
tunities to take more, and use more TO
her ceaseless and vital tasks, is oftel
compelled to go on her knees, a very
beggar, for the money she needs. Sh'
waits for a moment when her husband
is full of good dinner, and then ex
plains, argues, implOres.
If the husband and father were a
wise as those who raise cows, horses o
pigs, he would surround his wife will
every possible advantage within hi
means, and most of all he would secur
to her that spirit of independence
which alone can produce strong chill
f dren and train them in Il noble life
, Independent.