Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-04-26
be denied BY close observers ofdomesti.

holds.
This condition of things does no
usually prevail in the establishments
of the newly married. While thu
novelty lasts, the recently-made Bene
dict is the center around which all re
wolves. His comforts, his likes ant
dislikes for people and things, hi
preferences in eating. are consulted
and constitute the young housekeepcr's
guide. until the husband is in fail
way to become spoiled. The length
of time all this lasts varies. but it may
safely be predicated that those are ex
ceptional households in which aftel
awhile there is not q diminutiOn o.
the first enthusiastic manifestations d
devotion. The love has not lessened'
but it has become anevery-day matter
The young wife has acquired care:
that are more engrossing than the
study of her husbands lightest whims.
There are babies in the house now,
little troublesome comforts" whose
wants are imperative and vociferous.
In the case where the mother is hel
own nurse, the wakeful nights, the
busy days. keep her too closely oc'
cupied to be always mindful that
Benedict's fayorite dishes are prepared.
or that she herself 'wears the colors
he approves.
In the early months of their married
life the regulation dressing-gown and
slippers were displayed in orthodox
fashion in front of the fire every even
ing and the wife was always at he
door to greet her returning lord. But
now the hour of his homecoming is
that of the babies supper and bed
time. She may. like a brave little
woman, still .'meet her husband with
a SMILE" but the chances are largely
in favor of his having to get his own
slippers and dressing-gown. The cares
of the day have left her no time for
frightening her wits or withdrawing
her thoughts from the rut in which
they run, and she is too weary and too
much absorbed in domestic details to
seek from her husband the business
particulars which she was once so
proud and happy to be allowed to
share with him. She is so tired when
supper is over that she can only long
for bedtime as she works mechanically
at the sewing with which her basket is
always filled, while Benedict sits
buried in his paper on the other side of
the lamp.
As the little ones grow up, if they
are like most American children, their
desires are paramount in the house
hold. If the husband and father is of
a domestic character he still clings to
his hearth-side, but he feels secretly
that the share of attention his cares
and fancies receive is far smaller in
proportion than that bestowed upon
Jacks and Mamie's sports and studies.
His wife declares, half-jestingly. half
sighingly, that she never has chance
to become acquainted with her hus-
band. They have drifted apart, little
by little, and although the old love
holds firm the sympathy, the COM
munity of feeling is gone.
The old principle of avoiding the
first wrong step holds good in married
life as well as in every thing else. and
is perhaps of even more Importance in
this relation than in. any other. The
little rift within the lutte is easily made,
and widens with such fatal quickness
that it is almost impossible to so close
it that no trace of the breach may re-
main. While it is the duty of every
husband to do his share toward pre-
serving the unity of thought and feel
ing, the responsibility of these rests
far more upon the wife's shoulders.
She is the keeper of the home, as we'll
rs its maker.
The holding of herself in a receipt
i've attitude for condolences, the &C
quiring of habit of quick and apt SYM
pathy, the readiness to heed and to
help, the patience that receives COM
plants cheerfully, the courage that
puts the best and bravest face on petty
worries and greater trials, the unset
fishness that forgets fault-finding and
makes a fresh beginning after each
discord-all these are not easy for a
woman to learn.
They mean self-effacement. SO far as
the weaker qualities of her nature are
concerned. Nor is it always a simple
matter for her to keep herself up to
her own standard when her nerves are
worn to the quick by bodily weaknesses
of which man knows nothing. Never.
theless. the woman who means to be in
the best and highest sense helpmate
and companion to her husband must
resolve to struggle to put self under
her feet as steadfastly as did the man
pictured in the House Beautiful cast
the world behind his back. The effort
brings the reward. however. inasmuch
as such an attitude of mind eventually
becomes second nature.
All this does not mean that q woman
is to spoil her husband. Only, put