St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-12-09
HE READ TO HER.

HE READ TO HER.
Al9ua<ls Attempts to Improvl
HIS WiSs's Mind
The first year that we were married
Augustus and did considerable read
3ng-that II, he read while listened
We took up . course in English poetry,
commencing with Chaucer and ending
with Cowper. There WAS . roseate
glamour over everything. and used
20 do dainty bits of fancy work for the
house, into which the beauty and the
freshness of the thoughts were woven;
the smosaic Of Spenser's descriptions
covered my mats; Shakespeare's wit
and wisdom were threaded In and out
through my tidies. and Milton's state.
Illness seemed even to ennoble tho sofa
pillow embroidered.
Those were halcyon days, and we
expected they would last. No denun-
ciation was too severe from Augustus
for the woman whose soul could not
aspire above the pots and pans of her
share his choicest intellectual morsels
with his wife; and agreed with him
perfectly. remember his sister visited
m that first winter and said that when
he lived 1t 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
said nothing: "Poor fellowi how
sadly uncongenial his home surround
1nRs must have been! and that now al
his life long he should have . compsn-
lon who could appreciate him-s true
comraae;" and - soon - was out Of
her sight hummed Tapturously:
Two souls with but single thought
Two hearts that heat ~ 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 .
sense that he needed development in
this direction gave him this delightful
spasm- He is scientific, intensely 50,
while have no leaning in that direc-
tion. though what I might have done
had ! continued under his tuition
Is uncertain. The honeymoon waned;
the single thought multiplied, -
well - cares and children, until at
last. though we are counted . congcnial
couple. We jog along about like the
rest of the world, and he spends the
most of his time ut home in the study,
while am In the kitchen or nursery.
But the books that he reads I never
open, except now and then when / am
busting them, and even the titles are
sometimes incomprehensible. I sup
pose II had . great mind. like Mary
Somerville or Maria Mitchell, should
have one Of these volumes propped mp
before me when I am kneading bread;
but L iind them 50 exhausting that,
even when have . hit Of leisure. ig-
nobly dip into = magazine instead
But We have not driftcd apart thus
without some ehesrt-buruinRs and strug-
gleA I can hardly blame myself, and
Il certainly is not the fault of Angus
tins; no longer than . month ago he
made heroic effort to place Affairs on
the old ideal footing. One of the chill
dren had . severe attack Of Group in tho
night Augustus Is such an afFectionate
father that anything of the kind near
~ drives him distracted. and he con-
ducts himself 50 much like Q lunatic
that It is 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 |
10 unwoutcd tenderness. and suppose,
dear man! he thought he had been neg-
lectful and would make up for 1t It |
once; %. morning or two after. he
aid ut breakfast: 'Will It not be f.
vorable time this morning, Maria, for
rs to commence that book I have
wanted you to read 20 lonRT' 'Oh,
that will b delightful!" I said. with |
and then. deprecatingly,
but ! .-eally nm afraid that shall
have to fcrcgo tho pleasure I had
planned to make gingersnaps this
and shall not have
mother chance this week" 1T Is
necessary for me always to have .
supply of gingersnaps on hand, for
Augustus enjoys them % much. They
we're IN institution" 1t his notber's
breakfast table. and one which he ex-
,ccts will be perpctusted-) ''All right"
,e said. cheerfully; II will come down
nto the kitchen and sit; il il cool this
morning. and the fire will be agree
bile" ''But I shall mako 90 much
'oise." said; II cannot help it; Il will
70 unpleasant for you" ''Oh, I shall
not mind II in the least" he replied; II
IN not one Of those men whose train Of
hooRht is interrupted by trifleA II,
ave work that will keep mo until
bout ten, and then can read to Won
or m hour or two"
went about my kitchen, washing
he dishes and preparing the vegetables
or dinner. with . glow It my heart I
vas touched BY my husband 3 kindneaA
The book was entitled 'Reconciliatiou
{ Science and Religion" and was writ .
en- BY . light In the scientific world ,
rho had been his instructor. and Il was ,
specially interesting to him from Der. ,
onal reasons; but his thoughtfulness ,
a selecting this work, which he had ,
esd long before. was very gratifying .
. me because appreciated his motive.
have noticed 30 many structures upon )
be views Of Darwin, Huxley and Her. ,
ert Spencer. from sources that BE- /.
eve are pure. and more than once our ,
has made illusions to scieu- /.
sts which have quite worried me, 20 ,
hat Augustus understands that am
ute anxious lest his faith should be
HA AeanR> - -A>A ~ |