Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-01-03
folded her hands in the rest that comes

0~NS w
Did Robert mourn herr Yes, for she
had made his home attractive. Months
after, when he grew lonely and desolote.
he married Esther. Society gossiped and
marveled, and said she would follow in
the footsteps of Amy.
g Circumstances make men as they
make women, and blind lack of con-
sideration can be cured" thought the
new wife.
Where are my slippers, Estheri"
''Just where you left them, my dear"
said voice full. of love and kindness.
Robert looked for moment as man
just awaking from sleep, and then wisely
waited upon himself
'T am obliged to go away on an errand
this evening, Robert, and you'll mind
the baby, and make the children happy,
l know" and she kissed him affection
ately and closed the door.
Robert Holmes seemed waking from a
dream. He had rarely spent his evenings
away from home, but never in caring for
children-his children Shy as fawns,
they came up to talk, and ask for stories,
and finally clambered over his knees. He
began to wonder after all that he and
Amy had not enjoyed the children more
together. All, Amy wondered thatl
Esther said he had done beautifully,
and the children were overjoyed. 1t does
little hearts as much good to conquer af-
fection as older ones We love to find
flowers under the snow, or birds nests
in dead hollow trees.
After night or two, Esther said,
won't you read to US for an hour9 I
must not fall behind you, or we shall
lose our companionshipn
Probably he would have preferred read
ing in his library alone, but he acquiesced;
and his wife's keen criticisms and his
children's questions gave zest to the
evening.
81 think 1 shall take a trip on the
lakes, Esther,n he said one morning. '1
am overworked. Quite party are going,
and the fishing and rowing will make
new man of me-"
Excellent, and now that the children
are SO well cared for, l will go with you.n
He couldn't tell the new wife that he
was accustomed to go alone, and that
the care of woman might prevent rest
and freedom; beside she seemed so
happy at the prospect, that he repressed
his surprise. Fond of rowing and genial
company, and of every changing phase
of nature, like himself, he began to
think it would have been a mistake not
to have brought her. He could not help
asking himself if Amy would not have
enjoyed all this! What blessed thing
is conscience! How it mellows hearts,
even though it sometimes does its work
too late.
He was beginning to understand that
a woman must receive affection as well as
give it; that only as an equal in this
highest companionship which we call
marriage, can both be supremely happy.
The dead author of Hypatia wrote truly:
"Whenever man and wife are really happy
together, it is by ignoring and despising,
not by asserting, the subordination of
woman to man.
Esther cared well for the household,
but she advised, was interested, and per
haps gave opinions unsolicited about all
matters touching the man she loved.
Finding her judgment valuable, he began
to depend upon it
"What has so changed Robert Holmesqn
said the people Did he love the second
wife better than the mother of his five
children God forbid. He had only
been gently led by strong woman up to
his better self He had learned-alasl
not soon enough-how sensitive heart
will break; how man holds woman's
life in his hands, and forgets what
beautiful thing he holds We make or
mar the lives which touch ours. Oh, fora
prophetic vision which would let us see
the strength and tenderness, the sublime
faith and love, which we need as we step
out into the precious afterwards" of
marriage Sarah K Bolton, in Dio Lesoiss