The Monitor., 1886-12-03
TEN YEARS A USBANn.
A Eittie Story which Many "A sOrrOw.
ing Wife Knows by Heart.


ing wife Knows by Heart.
care you going to the lecture, Henry?'
| said, as | saw my husband one evening
putting on his oyerceat after tea.
Yes" was the reply.
81 wish you would take me, i" | aswered.
Really, Mary, think home is the
proper place for mother
''But one of my sisters would look after
the children do want to hear this great
lecturer .
Tell the truth, | have but one ticket, :
was the reply, as he went out Of the door,
''and don't think that can afford to buy
another
My husband and | had been married for
several years. Before the marriage he had
been unusually attentive, even for lover,
and il another gentleman spoke to me he
was Jealous When there was lecture or
a concert anywhere he always took me. II
was invited to party he was only toe
glad to attend me. But now parties are
bore, +" he says, ''he can't think why wo-
men wish to go to them" Then lie was
all affection. Now, he acts as if he would
lower his dignity to show his love for me
a caress he is almost certain to refuse me.
| cannot complain that be neglects his more
obvious duties. He gives me plenty of
money for dress, lives well, and is even
talking Of buying "a new house. But he
seems to think that a wife has no bust
ness with anything but housekeeping, and
never needs change of scene or other recre-
alton.
What's the use of woman" lie says,
'.geing about? Home is the place ior
her
1t may be SO, but after hard day 5 work
often feel as il walk in the fresh air or
a visit TO a neighbor's would be a real
blessing. | said to him the other evening
when he was going out again:
Wont you stay at home, Harry, to
oblge me? just this once. | am 50
lonely %
Lonely ," was his answer. ''IIow can
you be lonely with the ellildren?''
nobody, day in and day out. Can't you
do ito please ine-for this once -
could hardly speak. Ii was as much as |
could do to keep the tears from coming,
his conduct seemed so cruel.
''The fact is, he replied, I'm dead
beat with working all day and must go out
to get frightened up little. You women
never make allowance for a man. And
he went out quite GROSSLY.
Never make allowances Ii the husband
is worried with business, and | do not
doubt it, is not wife worried With herse-
keeping? Are the servants, and children,
and sickness no trouble? And is woman
differently constituted from man so that
the recreation which one considers indis-
pensablc for himself is of no Use to the
othero
'.llow your complexion has gone, said
my husband, to me the other day. st
seems to me that in this climate woman
is old at So
Again the tears came into my eyes.
Harry did not mean to be unkind; he was
only thoughtless. But why had lost my
complexion? Can woman live forever i'll
rooms heated by hot air, never going out
except on some errand, and then hurrying
home as soon as the errand is done, with
out losing Ler complexion? Is it the
climate or her mode of life that makes her
old before her time? 1t was on my
tongue to say these things, but refrained.
| have learned that ''silence is golden.
''How wish had something to read, y
/ said yesterday Il think if had new
book now and then, the evenings when you
are out, Harry, would not be SO long"
Books cost too much money in times
like these answered my husband. Il
should think your sewing would amuse you
enough. To get bread for his family and
lay by little for rainy day is as much
as a prudent man can do nowadays" And
as he spoke he lit his cigar and went cut.
Will men ever understand women? Will
they ever see their own selfishness in its
true lighta These thoughts rose TO my
mind as reflected with a sigh that tithe
of the money which Harry spent on cigars
would buy all the new books wished.
Yet Harry does not mean to be unkind
He saw his mother treated as he treats me
and he thinks have no right to complain
Perhaps have not. But, oh, how much
happier would be if things were differ
ent.
Are wemen only machines TO sew, darn
sweep, dust, bake bread, take care @
children and keep house? Have they No
need of recreation No higher natur
that is starved 10y a life like mine {?
| There is no contention betw cen llarr,
aud me- But his loYe now is, it seems &
me- very different thing from what i
see med before marriage. Is my fate th'
fate of all. Is every wife like me wher
ten years married 9-Philddelphfa Mort
| AB,erican