St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-11
A wIFE,s TACT.
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Helen Thompson in Happy Hours.

| Every house has its ''squally'' days once
! in awhile when NOR easter brews in the
| heavens and on the earth, giving every
member OF the household either toOthache or
rheumatism, or the ssblues.n 1t was just
such time as this at our house last week.
| To cap the climax, about noon company
| was announced, and we had planned for
''picked-up dinner" I was in despair, and
went down to the parlor with such an in
hospitable face that my little friend ex-
claimed, as she came forward TO meet me:
sYou aren't glad to see me one bit, Aunt
Sue!''
! was, though, and all my ill-1ature van
| ished in moment at the sight OF her sad
| face.
ssWhat is it, Kittye What is tn, mat
ter?" l asked, tenderly.
s'I'm in trouble, Aunt Sue, and thought
perhaps you could help me-" Andthe
sweet face struggled bravely with tears.
'sOf course can, dear child Take OF
your wraps and have lunch with Inc, and
! then you shall tell me all about it."
Kitty is one of my children-an old maids
darling Why she ever took a fancy to
ssAunt Sue'' it is quite impossible to say;
but the reasons for my Partially to her are
self-evident to all who know her, for who
can help loving the thoroughly sincere,
had been her teacher before her marriage,
and s'foster-mOther" she had called Inc
through very desolate Orphanage. Sheis
the wife of promising young lawyer; and,
! though her lips had ever been sealed on the
| subject we had long time feared she was
| not happy wife.
''Let me sit Oh this stool at your feet,
Auntie, and lay my head on your knee-so
as l used to do long ago. Oh, it seems
so long agol"
''How long. pray, Kitty You talk like
| an old woman"
sit is five years since Fred carried me
off, you know, auntie."
Give years to grow happy and wise,
| dear"
Eyes. But, oh, auntie, Fred doesn't
| love me one bit. It's so dreadful to tell
you, though"
| 1t was all out now, and the flushed face
buried itself in my lap fof shame and sor-
row, while the poor hands worked eonyul-
siyely.
| 1t was the old story of want of congemal-
| ity and oneness in habits of thought and
| action. The young husband loved society,
public life, elegant dinners, and an ever
hospitable board. He loved his young wife,
| too-no mistake about that-and wanted to
take her everywhere; loyal to her, but per-
haps too volatile and fond of display. She,
! by nature and habit, was very different,
loving privacy, domestic life, and above all
things, her books. Society, to her was
bore, and to keep open house an utter
WEAKNESS of flesh and spirit. So they had
grown apart. Sharp terminating words
| had been uttered, heartaches nursed, and
each finding solace for disappointed,
veXed spirit in opposite ways. ItWas easy
| to see the chasm before their feet-this
young pair who had vowed to walk to-
gether It'll death us do part" Both were
wrong, and | trembled for my bonny Kate.
kitty said l, Il have story to tell
you. There is a lesson in it. if you really
love your husband. l have a friend-a
right royal woman, too-who married a
man pre-eminent in business knowledge,
and SO absorbed therein as to have little in
terest in other things. He admired his
elegant wife, though. and liked to see her
presiding over his table and entertaining his
business acquaintance Yet, between these
two there seemed great gulf fxed-no
one thing in common. When alone there
was nothing to talk about; no level ground
on which to meet. To the wife there was
thralldom and humiliation in such life;
but instead of turning away from her hus-
band, or nursing dislike, she determined on
a noble conquest She turned her attention
to political economy, studied everything per-
tanning to business-banks, brokerage. rail-
road stock, market reports, the rise and fall
of all kinds of property, the national debt
and the currency question. Wasn't she
plucky woman? By and by she began to
talk, arresting her husbands ear by her
knowledge of facts, lucid statements and
evident acquaintance with all financial
questions. Curious, was it not9 Amazed,
L. bod how 1olio
admiration. Soon he began to defer to her
Judgment, ask her advice, and quote her
opinions His esteem became profound;
and now when she ventures to introduce
other topics nearer to her heart and taste,
he not only listens with Difference but joins
| in with hearty interest. She has become
wise and learned in the line of thought he
| values most; therefore in his eyes. her
| opinions are of worth On every subject.
| Wise woman ! Do you not see that she has
! conquered him in his citadel
Now, dear child, go home and adopt
| this rule. Adapt yourself so thoroughly TO
your husbands peeuliarities that love so
| deep and strong and unselfish will be born
| in his heart for you that you can mold him
| as you will; SO that he can but choose to
| yield to you preference as the law of his
| life. the JOY of his heart. You cannot force
point, but by loving integrity and tact you
can weld chain to bind your husband hand
and foot which he will never feel"
''Fll try it, Aunt Sue" said the little
woman, with such flash of spirit, will, and
hope, that l knew she would conquer.
Have / one dissatisfied husband for a
reader? Don't yield to dependency or i'll
humor. Above all, do not turn away in
silent pride. Respect each others rights,
preferences, and secret Sorrows Try the
golden rule. Use love and tact and You
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