Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-02
VOL. 7S.-3993. NO. 20.

But our love and confidence carried us
through, and made the learning Of the things
we did not know very easy and happy work."
"Go on, auntie,' said Elaine, delightedly.
g. My punctuation marks stand In this pro-
portion, now, and am so relieved, but
want TO know more"
"Well," said Aunt Lettie, What have
already said shows you that the first year
was no crucial test for us. We did not
have 10 spend it in rubbing off corners, and
learning how to jog along somewhat peace
fully In a matrimonial harness. o Elaine,
DEAR" she exclaimed, earnestly, "Never
think Of marriage in that inferior way 1t
is not harness. II is not a voyage
which will plunge you into sea OF troublep
There Is no need for marital quarrelsp |
say all this, not from the standpoint Of an
impractical, poetical visionary, but from
blessed personal experience. Think of it
always ss you do now, as union, as
oneness and your marriage will be as happy
a. mine."
awe we're married, as | said. was only
nineteen, Fred somewhat older. You, dear,
have the advantage over me, in that you
have good mother who has taught you in
all domestic duties, and had many loving,
practical talk with you about married life.
| had been on my own responsibility after
the age Of fourteen (my mother, as you
know, has long been dead), and had been
brought up with eight or ten servants
always at my back, so to boil an egg, make
milk with toast and chocolate caramels,
was literally the extent of my culinary edu.
cation, and never had cut or made the
simplest garment. So !, if any one, have
the right to know wSether such ignorance
need prove fatal to the peace of married
life. went right TO housekeeping, without
a servant, in little country parish"
"Why, auntie, how did you manage ?"
"In the first place, / had courage, and
was willing to try. Then had faith in
Fred's patience and love- And had been
to college, you know, and brought to my
work education and judgment, trained, at
least, to some degree. How much service
my college course has been to me in my
kitchen More than anywhere else. What
ever dsciplines the mind and trains the
judgment does just so much toward makinga
good housekeeper, and something which
nothing else can do. l armed myself too,
with dozen or more cook books, notably
Marion Harlands. That blessed woman
has been tower Of strength to me, though
always omitted the wine she so freely ad-
vises in cooking. Lastly, used my com.
mon sense, and kept my eyes open. OF
course l made my mistakes and had my
failures, but of the main results Uncle Fred
never complained"
"I should think not indeed" exclaimed
Elaine. "Tve many time heard him say
that there never was such a cook and house
keeper as you have been from the first.
And | am sure all your guests tell the same
story"
"Thank you, DEAR" said Aunt Lettie,
&c but you must make allowance for Uncle
Fred's partiality. And now guess I've
said enough to ease your mind, little girl.
| have been married fifteen years, and each
year has been happier than the preceding.
We have had trials, cares, and sorrows, but
we have borne them together, with Gods
help, and they have never made us un-
happy. Our love was founded deep, on
mutual respect, and was never dependent on
shining boots and dainty ringlets,' nor
even on wellbroiled beefsteak.' We have
trusted each other implicitly, and lived in
and for each other. Whatever interests
one interests the other. l have discussed
election and free will with Fred, while he
has been helping me wipe dishes. His
pocketbook is mine, and as open to my in
spection or use as my saucepans and larder
are to his, In short, dear, we are one, in 30
far as two entities can be one. We have
always been too busy in loving and helping
each other, training our children and serv-
ing God, to have time to put on our spec
taces to scrutinize each other and to hunt
for and magnify the petty foibles each may
have. / never have had to miss gentle at
tentions,' either, nor hear sharp words.
Love God. Love each other. Love God
and each other heartily, and your marriage
must, and most surely will, be happy. God
bless you, dear"
"Auntie," said Elaine, with suspicious
shaking in her laughing voice, and dew
in her sunny eyes, "my interrogation is
changed into an exclamation or affirma-
tion." And so the "2" was changed into a
"p-Lucy s. White in Christian al Work.