Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-05-10

u'Cb ID tne cculef drOuHu WHICH All re- |
wolves. His comforts, his likes and
dislikes for people and things, his
preferences in eating, are consulted,
and constitute the young housekeepcr's
guide, until the husband is in fair
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 after
awhile there is not a diminution of
the first enthusiastic manifestations Of
devotion. The love has not lessened,
but 1t has become an everyday matter
The young wife has acquired cares
that ae 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 her
own nurse, the wakeful nights, the
busy days, keep her too closely oc-
cupied to be always mindful that
Benedict's favorite 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 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 husban 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 quicknes:
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 wei
as its maker.
The holding of herself in a RECEIPT
i've attitude for condolences, the ac
quiring of ahabit of quick and apt sym
pathy, the readiness to heed and t.
help, the pltience that receives com
i plants cheerfully. the courage tina
puts the best and bravest face ON petit,
worries and greatey trials, the unset
fishness that forgets fault-tinding ant
makes fresh beginning after eacl
discord-all these are not easy for
woman to learn.
They mean self-effacement, 50 far a
the weaker qualities of her nature ar
concerned. Nor is it always simpl
matter for her to keep herself up t
her own standard when her nerves ar
worn to the quick by bodily weaknesse
of which man knows nothing. Never
theless, the woman who means to be i
g the best and highest sense helpmat
and a companion to her husband mus
resolve to struggle to put self unde
r her feet as steadfastly as did the ma
pictured in the House Beautiful cas-
the world behind his back. The effor
brings the reward, however, inasmuc
as such an attitude of mind eventual
s becomes second nature.
All this does not mean that woma
is to spoil her husband. Only, pu
S ting herself in his place. let her max
herself and her home what she woul
like to have it were their positions n
u versed. When Benedict has been har
at work all day, he is not refreshed b
coming home to draggled. spiritle'
wife and a cherries room. A woma
. who has little children about her ca
not always be arrayed in her bes
3 either physically or mentally, nor do,
a reasonable man expect it But ii
wife may. by giving thought to her a
f rangements, and applying the systel
which should be the rule of her hom
so dispose her tasks that most Of the
will be out of the way by the home-con
inghour. The table may be set the roo
n in order, and she herself arrayed in
5 neat dress or tea-gown. The childrel
= if they are trained as they should b
n will feel that papa's return is q
n brightest spot in the day The less
s babies are generally in their beds
Y s;x o,cIock and the elder childre