Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-21
The Health of Our Wives.

FOR three years Mrs. -- had been
sad, nervous invalid, wher by the death Of
an uncle she came into possession of
bonds which yielded an annual income of
$4,000. AT once her health began to i'm
prove, she walked erect. and her face be-
came radiant. Since her marriage she had
become a beggar; and beggars are not
strong in health, noble in bearing, or hap
Ply in face Her husband was rich, and
good man; but careful about his money
He never parted with a dollar if he could
possibly keep it. Their house was hand
some and their table good but while Dora,
the servant, who dressed quite as well as
her mistress, was not obliged to beg for
money, Mrs - could not get adollar for
personal expenses without explaining, urg
ing-in brief, begging.
Visiting her mother in another State,
she related, with many tears, the following
story g i needed warm dress in the au-
tumn, but so great was my repugnanee to
asking John for the means that put it off
till midwinter. One evening we had COM
pany, and John was delighted with their
praise of my singing. After we had re-
tired, and he had spoken very warmly of
my success in entertaining our friends,
thought the moment suspicious and in the
most gentle way mentioned the needed
dress. John was silent for some minutes,
and then said:
Why, my darling, thought you were
the best dressed woman among them
Don't you think, dearest, its foolish
thing to go on adding dress after dress,
when your closet is SO full that YOU can
hardly get into it? If you will take my
advice, | should say wear out some of the
dresses YOU already have"
Not another word was spoken by either
of US. | did not choose TO tell him that the
dress had worn that evening was my only
handsome silk, and my only warm wooden
dress was worn out. could not Sleep and
before morning resolved, come what might,
| would never beg again. That vow have
kept. During two years have had no adj
dition to my wardrobe, except the wooden
dress YOU sent to me. Not one word has
passed between my husband and selfon the
subject. Oh how often | think of the
sweet independence of my life as music
teacher. When gave myself to John it
was easy to make me happy. | asked but
little, and You know, mother, | never
shrink from care and labor. But now that
dear Uncle Eben's bonds give me the means
to clothe myself and assist my nieces as |
used to do, | shall forgive, forget and he
happy again. John Is now urging me to
transfer the bonds to him, and let him take
care of them for me-"
Ny daughter will YOU do it ~
"Why, mother, | have kissed those dear,
dirty, beautiful, old yellow bonds again and
again, because they have made it possible
for me to become happy and loving wife,
| tremble when | think how near | came
to hating my husband. shall keep the
bonds in my own hands. They are really
and truly the only bonds that bind me to
life"
| wonder if Mrs. - j. the only wife
whose health and life have been poisoned
by this mistake on the part of the husband.
The husband and father declares that all
his toll and savings are for his family. For
himself he does not care. His wife, who
translates dollars into precious child
muscle, brain and heart, instead of being
obliged to resist her husbands importuni-
ties 10 take moie and use more for her
cease!ess and vital tasks is often compelled
to go on her knees, very beggar, for the
money she needs. She waits for mo-
ment when her husband is full of good
dinner, and then explains, argues, i'm
plores.
If the husband and father were as wise
as those who raise cows, horses or pigs, he
would surround his wife with every posi-
BILE advantage within his means, and most
OF all he would secure to her that spirit of
independence which alone can produce
strong children and train them in noble
life.-( Dio Lewis, in independent.