The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-13
HE READ TO HER.
Augustus Attempts to Improve
His Wife,s Mind.

Augustus and did considera bic read
ing-that Is, he read while listened.
We took up course in English poetry,
commencing with CHANGER and ending
with Cowper. There was roseate
glamour over everything, aud / used
TO do dainty bits OF fancy work for the
house, into which the beauty and the
| freshness of the thoughts were woven;
| the mosaic of Sponsors descriptions
covered my mats; Shakespearess wit
| and wisdom were threaded in and out
through my tides. and Millions state
illness seemed even to enuobie the sofa
| pillow embroidered.
| Those were halcyon days, and we
expected they would last. No denun-
citation was too severe from Augustus
for the woman whose soul could not
aspire above the pots and pans of her
kitchen. nor for the man who did not
| share his choicest intellectual morsels
| with his wife; and agreed with him
| perfectly. ! remember his sister visited
| Us that first winter and said that when
he lived at home they never could have
| any pleasant times reading aloud in the
family circle, because Augustus was
| never interested in any book that the
| others cared for; and thought, though
l said nothing: Poor fellow! how
| sadly uncongenial his home surround
ings must have been! and that now all
his life long he should have compan-
ion who could appreciate him-a true
conrade;" and as soon as L was out Of
her sight hummed rapturously:
Two souls with but o single thought,
Tive hearts that beat one.
But, in spite Of all our high vows,
our intellectual paradise did not con-
tinue- Augustus Is not really poetical
In his tastes; the passion of love and a
sense that he needed development in
this direction gave him this delightful
spasm. He is scientific, intensely SO,
while have no leaning in that direc-
ton, though what l might have done
had l continued under his tuition
is uncertain. The honeymoon waned;
the single thought" multiplied, as
we'll as cares and children, until at
last, though we are counted congenial
couple, we jog along about like the
rest of the world, and he spends the
most of his time at home in the study,
while l am in the kitchen or nursery.
But the books that he reads | never
open, except now and then when / am
busting them, and even the titles are
sometimes incomprehensible l sup
pose if l had great mind, like Mary
Somerville or Maria Mitchell, should
have one of these volumes propped up
before me when / am kneading bread;
but l find them SO exhausting that.
even when / have bit of leisure, ig-
nobly dip into magazine instead.
But we have not drifted apart thus
without some heart bu rnings and strug-
giles. can hardly blame myself, and
1t certainly Is not the fault of Angus
tus; no longer than a month ago he
made heroic effort to place affairs on
the old ideal footing. One of the chill
dren had a severe attack Of Group in the
night. Augustus is such an affectionate
father that anything of the kind near
~ drives him distracted, and he con-
ducts himself SO much like lunatic
that it is a great relief to get him out
OF the house and after the doctor. We
were able to thwart the disease, and
the little sufferer was soon herself
again, but the shock awoke Augustus
to unworted tenderness, and suppose,
dear man! he thought he had been neg
lectful and would make up for it at
once; SO, morning or two after, he
said at breakfast: "Will it not be IA
vOrablc time this morning. Maria. for
us to commence that book l have
wanted you to read so long?'' ''Oh, /
that will be delightfulr' l said, with !
enthusiasm, and then, deprecatingly, !
but ] really am afraid that 1 shall /
have to forego the pleasure. l had /
planned to make gingersnaps this |
morning, and / shall net have |
another chance this week" Ut is |
necessary for me always to have
supply of gingersnaps on hand, for
Augustus enjoys them so much. They /
were an institution" az his mothers
breakfast table, and one which he ex-
poets will be perpetuated.) ''All right"
he said, cheerfuliy; Il will come down
into the kitchen and sit; it is cool this
morning, and the fire will be agree
able" But l shall make so much
noise," / said; Il cannot help it; it will
be unpleasant for you" 'Oh, / shall
not mind it in the least" he replied; II
am not one of those men whose train OF
thought is interrupted by trifes (
have work that will keep me until
about ten. and then | can read to you
for an hour or two
l went about my kitchen, washing
the dishes and preparing the vegetable
for dinner, with glow at my heart /
was touched by my husband kindness
The book was entitled Reconciliation
'f Science and Religion" and was writ
Ten by light in the scientific world
who had been his instructor, and it was
interesting to him from per-
'onal reasons; but his thoughtfulness
n selecting this work, which he bad
'ead long before, was very gratifying
% ne because / appreciated his motive.
have noticed so many structures upon
he views of Darwin, Huxley and Her
pert Spencer, from sources that / be-
ieve are pure, and more than once our
Minister has made illusions TO scien-
lists which have quite worried me. so
hat Augustus understands that l am
lutte anxious lest his faith should be
He SCOTS at what he con-
iders my weak fears but he has often
eterred me TO this book. and / knew
hat he wanted to rezssure NE
had buttered my tins and put my in
rodents into my mixing bowl. when
at ten he came down the
'ack stairs, volume in hand. and TOOK