Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-05-05
THE WIFE'S WORK.

ehtlfely he relies upon her Tor every
thing save, possibly, the mere cost of
living-for companionship, for COM
fort in affliction, for advice in per-
plexities, for all the details of his
life-until in time he becomes as de-
pendent as an infant! He grows
selfish, too, in his dependence, de-
manding her constant attention, rest
lessly wandering about the house if
she is absent, morose and petulant,
only content when assured of her
presence.
She it is who sees that his clothes
are in repair and always ready for
use, orders his meals and has them
prepared in attractive forms, keeps
his children neat and clean, makes
or oversees the making of their ap-
parel. Watches over him and them
lovingly, tenderly and unwearyingly
through all their ailments or sickness
entertains him with pleasant con-
verse, reads to him, adorns and
beauties his home, and what is her
return? Food and raiment, too often
sparingly or grudgingly furnished,
yet she is happy if she but receives
casual caress or an occasional smile
and kind word.
Few men seem to realize the con-
slant drudgery and the incessant vex-
ations under which a wife untiringly
and uncomplainingly performs her
daily household duties, not perhaps
from lack of kind feeling, but from
objectionable want of sympathy and
consideration. Some men never
dream Of the hourly irritations and
annoyances to which their wives are
subjected; they are so engrossed in
the mad struggle for wealth, so alb
sorbed in their own pleasure, they
lose sight of such minor matters as
home affairs that claim all of wom-
ans attention, seeming to think that
a wife should be happy and content
ed if her purse be kept moderately
we'll supplied. How little such men
know of the true womanhood or Of
their duties and obligations to their
wives; Yet they would feel outrag
ed if classed with selfish, unkind or
inconsiderate husbands.
A man who cannot appreciate, and
in some measure reciprocate his
wife's loving sacrifices and unselfish
devotion, is, in my opinion, no man.
He should be more loving, more
scrupulously polite to his wife, more
tenderly considerate of her, as such,
than when she was only his sweet
heart, for a sweetheart is still ker
own mistress and holds the right to
refuse his attentions, whilst a wife
is, in this regard, wholly in his pow
er, and true manhood will recognize
this fact and act accordingly.
If a wife makes a request Of her
husband and he cheerfuIly replies
"Certainly, my dear, with pleasure :"
the kind words and gentle manner
penetrate her heart and are treasured
there, but if he harshly answered {:
Il suppose | must, but you are for
ever wanting something" her heart
grieves, and humiliated, shrinks with
in itself, bearing an ugly wound that
time will scarcely heal.
True politeness, ever thoughtful Of
others, never willingly wounds, and
no one has so high a claim upon a
mans politeness and consideration
as his wife. She may have, doubt
less has faults, but they are of the
head not of the heart, and when her
love, devotion and self-sacrifce are
placed in the scales how largely they
outweigh these little faults?
Kind words aud loving attentions
may seem small things, but they sink
into woman's heart and rivet heI
affections. Love is woman's life
she grows radiant and beautiful upon
it, but deprived of it she withers and
dies. Her love once given is for al
ways, unless it be crushed by coarse
ness and brutality, and there are
brutes who call themselves men.