The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-08
Bear We One AnOthers' Burden.

AS I sat here in my own home, sur
rounded by the comforts of life, my at
tention was attracted to the Sad, care
worn face OF neighbor, and from
thinking of her and her surroundings,
my thoughts naturally drifted into
another channel, namely, the cause of
so much misery and headache. We
read in the good old Book, ''Bear ye
one anothers burdens" Were this
the motto of every home, whether a
palace or log cabin, there would be
fewer suicides, drunkards' graves, and
dens of iniquitv than we now have.
Look into your home. Wife, has
your husband care you do not share :?
A burden you do not try to bear for
him? Be careful lest be down his
trouble in way that will bring sor-
row to your heart. ...
So much has been written to the
wife about the smile she must always
wear to meet the face of her husband
as he comes home, tired and troubled
from his work. Ah, husband, DO you
always smile as you enter your home,
where your tired and troubled wife is?
Does she always receive pleasant
greeting? Do you set aside your bus
mess cares and cheer and amuse her?
Do you tell her the little newsy in
cidents of the day without her asking
question after question before gaining
ever so little Information As she
clears away the supper things, do you
take your paper and read aloud to her
until she is ready to rest for the even
ing? In other words, do you bear her
burden? Perhaps you come in from
the muddy street without a thought of
the nice, clean carpet, you are soillng
for her to sweep your coat (perhaps q
little damp you thoughtlessly throw
on the bed your hat on a chair; you
60 to the CRATE, rake the fire till the
ashes fly all over the mantle and the
fancy ornaments thereon, draw up to
the fire the most comfortable rocker,
and after seating yourself, call for your
slippers. You take out your pipe and
fill the house with tobacco smoke till
summoned to supper.
The wife has met you with the smile
she has been so often told to wear for
you she has carefully removed your
hat and coat to their proper places, has
received = whato She has prepared
a tempting meal for you, and placed it
on table, we'll arranged, and at her
modest question, "Is there any news"
you say, Nothing only street car
smashed up."
ANY one hurt?"
eyes"
Anybody we know?"
II don't knew-don't bother me-
walt and find out"
Your meal finished, you adjourn to
your comfortable chair and enjoy your
paper till bed time. In the mean
while, your wife is in the kitchen
drearily plodding through her work.
No cheerful song can she sing over her
household duties, for how can she,
with such selfish bear for husband :?
Her kitchen work done, she, too sits
in a rocker, not as comfortable a one
as yours though, for you ara poor, not
able to have too many. comforts
does she read d? No. She has no time.
A button is off your coat, or the sleeve
ripped. Your socks need darning.
There is always something. Still, IT
YOU chance to look at her and she sees
you, she must smile Byand by when
you have laid her away in her resting
place, as you sit by your lonely fire.
side, in your favorite chair, you will
think of her, and long for her presence,
that you might atone fof your sins OF
omission.
The wife cannot do all the smiling,
the waiting on, and the drudgery. If
you help her. it will no longer be a
burden. Her clear voice can be heard
as she sings over herwork, her greet
ing will be sincere, her supper enjoyed,
and her sewing pleasant task, as she
listens while you read aloud from the
paper, or an Interesting book. or ex-
plain to her the perplexing topics of
the day. To you, oh man, as well as
to woman, was it written, "Bear ye
one another's burdens"
:. A. I. M.