Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-11-02
HE READ TO HER.
Aueustp1 Attempts to Improve
His Wifo's Mind.

f%'N ~ ot lttS thdb VIC WeIc bldTrlcu,
Augustus and did considerable read
ing--that Is, he read while listened.
we took UP course In English poetry,
commencing with Chauccr and ending
with Covpcr. There was roseatc
glamour over everything, and used
10 do dainty bits Of fancy work for the
house, into which the beauty and the
freshness Of tir thoughts were woven;
the mosaic of Sponsors descriptions
covered my mats; Shalsespcarc's wit
and wisdom were threaded in and out
through my tides. and Millions state
lincss seemed even to cnnoble the sofa
pillow ! embroidered.
Those were halcyon days, and wo
expected they would last. No denun-
citation was too severe from Augustus
for tho woman whose soul could not
aspire above the pots and pans of her
ra<ytchcn, nor for the man who did not
sharce bis choicest intellectual morsels
with his wife; and agreed with him
perfectly. ] remember his sister visited
us that FIRST winter and said that when
ho lived 1t homo they never could have
any pleasant times reading aloud In the
family cirole, because Augustus was
never Interested in any book that the
Others caredtor; and thought, though
I said nothing: Poor fellow! how
sadly uncongchial his home surround
ings must have bcenl and that now all
his life long he should have a compan-
ion who could appreciate him--a true
comradc;' and as soon as | was out of
her sight ] hummed rapturously:
Two souls with but single thought.
Two hearts that beat as ono.
But, il spite of all our high vows,
our intellectual paradise did not con-
tinue Augustus is not really poetical
In his tastos; 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 might have done
had ] continued under his tuition
Is uncertain. Tho honeymoon wapcd
tho single thought" multiplied, as
well 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 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 incomprehensiblc. l sup
pose if | had "a great mind, like Mary
Somerville or Maria Mitchell, should
have one of these volumes propped up
before me when am kneading bread;
but find them so exhaustng that,
even when have a bit of leisure, ig-
nobly dip into magazine instead.
But we have not driftcd apart thus
withoutso eheart-burnings and strug-
giles. can hardly blame myself, and
it certainly is not the fault of Angus
tus; no longer than month ago he
made heroic effort to place affairs on
the old ideal footing. One of the chill
slrcn had severe attack of Group in the
night Augustus is such an affectionate
father that anything of the kind near
ly drives him distracted, and he con-
ducts himself so much like a Iunatic
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
ngain, but the shock awolse Augustus
to unwonted tenderness, and suppose,
dear mani he thought he had been neg.
lectfnl and would make up for 1t a;
once; SO, morning or two after, he
said at breakfast: "Will it not be ia.
vorable time this morning, Maria, for
us to commence that book | have
wanted you to read SO long?" "Oh,
that will be delightfull'' said, with
enthusiasm, and then, deprecatingly
s'but | really am afraid that l shall
have to fcrego the pleasure l had
planned to make gingersnaps this
morning, and shall not have
another chance this week" Ut /,
necessary for me always to have 6
supply of gingersnaps on hand, fol
Augustus enjoys them so much. They
were an Constitution" at his mothers
breakfast table, and one which he cx
poets will be perpetuated.) "All right,
he said, cheerfully; II will come dowr
into the kitchen and sit; 1t is cool thi,
morning, and the fire will be agree
able" But I shall make SO mucf
noise" said; ~ cannot help it; it will
be unpleasant for you" "Oh, shall
not mind it in the least he replied; g
am not one of those men whose train Of
thought is interrupted by triAes.
have work that will keep inc unit
about ten, and then can read to yo,
for an hour or two"
went about my kitchen, washing
the dishes and preparing the vegetables
for dinner. with glow at my heart
was touched by my husbands kindness
The book was entitled RECONCILIATION
of Science and Religion" and was writ
ten by light in the scientific worlt
who had been his instructor, and 1t wa
especially interesting to him from per
sonal reasons; but his thoughtfulnes
in selecting this work, which he bat
read long before, was very gratifying
to me because appreciated his motive
] have noticed so many structures upoI
the views of Darwin, Huxley and Her
bert Spencer, from sources that be
lieve are pure, and more than once ou
minister has made illusions to scien
lists which have quite worried me, 81
that Augustus understands that an
ouite anxious lest his faith should b,
undermined. He SCOTS at what he con
sidcrs my weak fears, but he has Otter
referred me to this book, and | knew
that he wanted to reassure me.
had buttered my tins and put my in
gradients into my mixing bowl, whel
promptly at ten he came down tn
back stairs, volume In hand. and tool
his position near the kitchen table.
He did look so noble sitting there il
the new dressing gown / had finishes
the week before, and II brought bacl