The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Reasons Why.

judgment, and l suppose it is a hard
thing for any one to believe that effect
in our own individual cases follows
cause, and what we firmly accept as
fate is rather machinery set in motion
by finger-touch of our own. For others
we see it clearly and for ourselves not
at ALL Thus Mrs. Brown says to me-
and Mrs. Brown is dear little woman,
not very old nor very wise, perhaps, but
capable of making herself most charm
ing: 81 don't see why, even when a
husband does not cease in all things
to be a lover, he still does grow so in
different to his wife's society. Now
John won't take me to any place at all,
if he can evade it without, as he sup
poses, hurt to my feelings" Most
emphatcally l don't blame John. |
sat behind them once at an entertain
ment. 1t wasn't very good entertain
ment, but, dear mel John thought it
was. And that sharer of his griefs
and ioys-she was in a draught, she
wanted her shawl pulled up and she
wanted window let down; she knew
the baby was crying at home and her
seat was very hard. And through all
the stage performance the Uplifting of
that dainty, saucy nose, the persistent
murmuring of-assuredly, very sweet
toned voice. How any one of sense
enjoys this sort of thing passes my COM
prehension! Well, Jack, whenever
you can tear yourself away from this
brilliant affair | am ready" And then
she says: Why doesn't John care to
have me with him, as in those blessed
courtship days?" All, but in those
days she cared to be with him so truly
that every sight was gilded in her eyes
straightway and every pleasure glori-
fed. John wasn't made uncomfort-
able by sarcasm nor harassed by
complaints at that time. And Mrs.
White wonders why her husband never
cares to stay at home one evening in
the week; why so quiet and amiable a
man, seemingly made for domestic
| life, always has some excuse ready to
take him out o. nights. Now, Mr.. White
smokes. don't doubt he smokes too
much, still his wife can not bear the
smell of tobacco, and that must be al
together given up at home. His wife's
reading is restricted to Godey's Lady' S
Book and she never glances at news
paper. Her evening work is generally
some crocheting where one has to count
and pay strict attention. Perhaps
Mr.. White thinks sometimes of their
youth and the evenings spent together
then. A man can't live forever on
syllabub, nor always be a-wooing, but
few women whose husbands once were
true lovers need ever lose that love
And Mrs. Gray laments, with bitter
tears, that Willie is not straight
forwardly true; that he shuflles anG
equivocates. And don't blame Willie
Sometimes his punishment is heavy for
tiny fault-for carelessness, not open
sin; sometimes, when the parents are
unusually good natured, or indulgent
or otherwise occupied, no stress is laiC
on a serious misdemeanor. Willie
never knows whether a tornado viii
whirl about his ears or smile reward
him when he makes an apt and saucy
speech. And Mrs. Green $50 verdant !!
thinks it as remarkable as sad tina
Henry, senior, does not interfere will
Henry, junior, now he has grown be
yond her own control. One must con
denim him because he is that mos
useless thing-a man who dares no
assert his manhood. And yet tn,
trouble is of Mrs. Green's own brew
ing. When Harry was little fellow
just beginning to be naughty, one wore
and correction from his father wa
enough to bring forth his mother il
defence. And not that alone, but sh
so argued-bqore The child-the parenta
injustice and unreason that who coul'
wonder so much when the disguste,
man finally threw aside all control an,
left his offspring to very weak pair o
woman's hands. And Mrs. Greer
needs must wonder, too, why Harry i
so dissipated. Why, when he hear
one parents wisdom doubted ant
opinion set at naught, can he not him
: self supply little scorn for the other
There are so many why's, so many rea
sons why, perhaps each ones con
science can tell him others, and wher
J he need not go farther afeld in askin,
the monosyllabic question for the an
swer. - Ruth Hall, an Good House
keeping.