River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-10-19
He READ TO HER.
Augustus Attempts TO Improve
His Wife's Mind.

" e TOOK up eour~f. IA I'm ii>l poetry,
commencing with Chaucer and ending
with Cowpcr. There was a roseate
glamour over everything. and I used
TO do dainty bits of fancy work for re
house. into which the beauty and the
freshness Of the thoughts were woven:
the mosaic of Sponsors descriptions
covered my mats; Shakespeare wit
and wisdom were threaded in and ont
Though my Tides. and Millions state
illness seemed even L. snuoble the sofa
pillow ] embroidered
Those were haicvon days, and ~e
expected they would last. No dcnuu-
citation was too severe from Augustus
Sor 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 I 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 forl and thought though
said nothing: Poor fellow, how
sadly Uncongenial his home surround
ings must have been. and that now all
his life long he should have a compan-
ION who could appreciate him-a true
comrade;" and a. soon as was out of
her sight hummed rapturously:
Two souls With hut 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 aud a
sense that he needed development in
this direction gave him this delightful
spasm- He Is scientific, intensely Sc,
while ] have no Gaming in that direc-
ton. though what might have done
had ] continued under his tuition
u uncertain. The honeymoon waned:
the ''single thought" multiplied. as
we'll - cares ana children. until at
last, though we are counted a congenial
couple, we - along at,out like the
rest Of the world. and he spends .he
most Of his time al home in the study,
while am in the kitchen or nursery
But the books that ne reads never
open. except now and. then " men am
busting them. and even the titles arc
sometimes incOmprehensible. sup
pOse II had great mind, like Mary
SonerviIie or Maria Mitchell. | should
have one OF these volumes propped MP
before me when ! am lIncading bread;
but ! nod -Lem 50 exhausting that.
even when have bit of leisure, 7 ig-
nobly dig into a magazine instead.
But we have not drifted apart thus
without some heart burnings and strug-
giles. I can hardly blame myself. and
~ certainly - not the fault of Angus
tuS; no longer than month ago ne
made a heroic effort 10 place affairs on
the old ideal footing. One of the chill
dreu had severe attack OF erOup in the
night. Augustus i such an affectiOnate
father that anything Of the kind near
u drives him distracted. and he con-
ducts himself ~ much like a lunatic
that u Is great relief 10 get him ont
of tine house and after the doctor. We
were abs 10 thwart the disease. and
the little sufferer was soon herself
again. but the shock awoke Augustus
a. unwoutcd tenderness. and ] suppose,
dear man, he thought he had been neg
lectful and would make up for it At
once, 50. a morning or two after. ne
said at breakfast: ..Will II not be a IA
vorable time this morning. Maria for
rs To commence that book ! have
wanted you to read - lonE?' oh.
that viii toe dclightful.' / said. with
enthusiasm. and then. dcprceatingly,
but ] really am afraid that ! shall
have 10 foUegO the pleasure. had
planned to make gingersuaps this
morning. and I shall net have
another chance this week" (It IS
necessary for me always 10 have a
supply of gingersnaps on hand, Tor
Augustus enjoys them 80 much. They
were an institution" at his mothers
breakfast table, and one which he ex-
poets will be perpetuatcd-l .'All right. =
he said, cheeriully; Il will come down
into the Sitchen and sit; il is cool this
U'urniug, and the tire will be agree
able. But ! shall make 80 much
noise" said; Il CannoI heIp il; ii will
be unpleasant for YOU On. / shall
not ujnd 1t in the least. he replied: Il
am not one of those men whose train OF
thought Is interrupted by tribes.
have work that viii keep me until
about ten. and then can read to you
for IN hour or two"
went about my kitchen. lshing
the dishes aud preparing the vegetables
for dinner. with glow at nv heart. |
was touched by nv husband kindness.
7 he hook was entitled decentralization
of Science and Religion. and was writ
ten 10y 4 light in the scientific world
who had been his instructor. and il was
especially interesting 10 him from per
kousl reasons: but his thoughtfulneSs
In selecting this work, which he had
read long before, was very gratifying
to mc because | appreciated his motive.
! have noticed So many structures upon
the views Of Darwin. Huxley and Her
bert Spencer. from sources that I he
lieve are pure. AID more than once our
minister has made illusions TO scien-
lists which have quite worried me- 50
that Augustus understands that / am
quite anxious lest his faith should be
undermined He SCOTS at what he con-
si,iers my weak fears, but he has often
referred me 10 this book. and I knew
that he wanted 10 reasSure me
had buttered INV tins and put my in
gradients into my mixing bowl. when
promptly at ten ne came down the
back stairs, volume in hand. and too.
his position near the kitchen table.
He did look 50 noble sitting there in
the new dressing gown 7 had finished
the week before, ard il brought back
old times 50 forcibly that the flood of
memories almost made me lose the
opening sentences. ! stirred away at
my mixture as softly as possible. but
every stroke 81 the spoon against the
bowl Jared on my nerves II Is al
WAYS quite difficult for me 10 take in
readily the meaning Of works of this
sort, and I frequently have TO 20 over
one sentence several times. / asked
Augustus to rc-read once or twice. but
il annoyed him, so | only listened more
iRteEtly. aud said nothing IL did not I
understand. ! had just put my dough !
or the holding board when Mrs. Eos !
ter came into the kitchen; she * my |
neNs-tioor neighhor and never uses any I
ceremony. augustus does not approve 1
OF her. because he thinks she Is such a 1
gossip. and 50 she Is but she Is kind /
hearted and an excellent neighbor. and 1
well. suppose am not as adverse 10 /
hearing a little gossip as ] ought TO I
be. having such high-toned husband /
hut l wished she was in Guinea Just i
then She and Augustus both looked 4
sheepish when they saw each other, 4