Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-01
WHAT Il DE TO A WIFE.
Household

Household.
How dependent upon his wife man
groas as years roll on. How entirely
he relies upon her for everything save.
possibly, the mere cost Of living-for
companionship, for comfort in atflic-
ton, for advice in perplsxitles, for all
Of the details Of his home llfe-until in
time he becomes as depended a. an in
FAINT. He grows selfish, too, in his de-
pendence. demanding her constant at
tention. restlessly wandering about the
house if she Is absent, morose and petu-
her presence.
She it is who sees that his clothes are
in repair and always ready for use, or
ders his meals and has them prepared
" attractive forms. keeps his children
making of their apparel, watches over
him and them lovingly. tenderly and
unwearyinoly through all their ailments
and sickness, entertains him with pleas
ant converse, reads to him, adorns and
beauties his home. and what Is her
return? Food and raiment. too often
sparingly or grudginely furnished, yet
she il happy If she but receives a casual
caress or an occasional smile and kind
word.
Few men seem to realize the constant
drudgerv and the inoessant vexations
under which a wife untiringly and un-
complainingly performs her daily house
hold duties, not perhaps from lack of
kind feelings, but from an upardOna-
ole want of sympathy and consideration.
Some men never dream of the hourly
irritations and annoyances to which
their wives are subjected: they are en-
crossed in the pad struggle for wealth,
so ab sDrbed in their own pleasures that
they lose sight of such minor matters
a. home affairs that claim all OF a wo-
mans attention, seeming to think that
wife should be happy and cOntentsd
if her purse bs kept moderately we'll
supplied. How little such men know Of
true wOmanhOUl, Or Of their duties and
obligations t. their wives. Yet they
would feel outraged if classcd with
selfish, unkind or inconsiderate hus
bands. A man who cannot appreciate
and in some measure reciprOcate his
wife's loving sacrifices and unseltish de-
votion is, IN my opinion, no man. lie
should bs more gentle, more loving,
more scrupulously polite to his wife,
more tenderly considerable OF her, as
such, than when she was only sweet
heart, for a sweetheart il still her own
mistress and holds the right to refuse
his attentions, whilst q wife 10, in this
regard. wholly in his power. and true
manhood will recognize that fact and
act accordingly.
Ii a wife makes 4 request of her hus-
band, and he cheerfully replies, Ger
t.inly, my dear: with pleasure" the
kind words and the gentle manner pene
trate her heart and are treasured there;
but if he harshly answers, IL suppose l
must, but you're forever wanting some
thing" her heart. grieved and humili-
ated. shrinks within itself. bearing an
ugly wound that time will scarcely heal.
True politeness, ever thoughtful OF
others, never willingly wounds, and no
one has 80 high u claim upon man 8
politeness and consideration AS his wife.
She may have. doubtless has. faults,
since no one il perfect but her faults
are OF the head. not of the heart and
wnen her love, devotion and self sacrifice
are placed In the scales, how largely
they outweigh these faults
Kind words aud loving attentions may
seem small things, but they sink into
wonan's heart and rivet her affections.
Love il woman's life ; she grows ra-
diant and beautiful upon Il, but de-
prived of it she wlthers and dies. her
love once given is for always. unless II
be crushed bv cparseness and brutality,
and there are brutes who call them
selves men.