The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-06-30
He LOVED HIS WIFE.

HE LOVED HIS WIFE.
A Little Lesson for Many Self
No one doubted that he loved her de-
and yet-they had lived in the
same house for nearly fortye years
Meanwhile he had become onosof the
richest men in Lakeville. He owned
and rented numerous dwellings with
all modern luxuries in the way of steam
neat. gas fixtures, bathroom, plate
glass windows, largo closets, etc. The
old home possessed none of these adj
vantages. 1t was delightfully."- situated,
and the garden surrounding it was
ideally beautiful Mammoth oaks and
wide spreading naples cast deep shad-
ows upon the rambling structure in
which Mrs. Van Dyke spent her toll
some later years, and nil the people
who drove past werc apt to say:
''There's a fine o1d-fas hioned sort of
placer
Mrs. Van Dyke was accustomed TO
herring praises of the trees; the nice
cool we'll water, so much better than
the soft light from sixteen kerosene
lamps, such a relief after blinking
evenings of brilliant gas that was SO
trying to the eyes; the CHEEKY comfort
of big blazing coal stoves in midwintcr;
the inexprcssiblc deliciousness of fresh
berries from the vines that grew SO pro-
fusely on the grand old Van Dyke
premises. Comments on the manifold
blessings enjoyed by tho Van Dykes
gave Mr.. Won Dyke unalloyed satisfac-
ton, for he was very proud of the old
home. Two paramount attachments
were plainly manifested at all times.
He was exceedingly fond of 1.-The old
place." and, let it be remembered, he
loved his wife devotedly.
She had borne him seven healthy,
nffectionate and dutiful children, nll
of whom were married and settled in
different portions of the globe, and
who, with their various progeny, were
wont to flock to the ancestral domain
for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other
occasions. Mrs Van Dyke was there
fore seldom alone, and almost never
care free for even one week of the year;
and, besides, Mr.. Van Dyke was natur-
ally inclined to extend off-hand invita-
tions to all his friends to put up at hts
house whenever IL suited their pleas
ure or convenience. Not only was he a
but, owing to Mrs Van Dykes manage
ment, his house was a most restful and
altogether desirable refuge for many
of his relations
Mrs Van Dyke was a woman of un-
varying amiabi]ity. She was patient
and kind and gentle beyond dcscrip-
ton. Throughout the long years Of
their welded life, her loving llus band
never heard her utter a complaint. She
was the last person to go to sleep ut
night, and the hrst to waken. or ut
least to rise in the morning. for forty
seasons. She planned breakfasts and
dinners and suppers innumerable, was
often at the mercy of poor servants,
aud was sometimes left for weeks at
a time with none at all; and yet the
lamps burned every night, and were
filed and trimmed every morning, the
buckle 81 went down and up in the moss
well, the cistern pump
creaLed with unbrolken regularity. and
Mrs. Van Dyke never said q word about
all those rented houses where there
were no lamps used, where water
flowed freely by merely turning .
faucet, whore hot baths could be taken
any hour without a thought of pumps
and kettles, and where vvomen.s cares
and Responsibilities svere reduced to:a
lninilnum. - - s
An, yes, Andrew VAN Dyke loved hi.
ading and tender creature. who always
1oolked upon him ass superior and, who
never tailed t6smeet him with smile,
fnot . kiss, when he entered tho dear
Old home No matter how large the
Groceryill, 1t was promp tlyf paid, and
Severe tho dry
apoxas hills, and the unillinerss ana up-
k0asteeS1sp bills. and. finally. the doc
tors' bills that Ma van Dyke con,
tracted-. va $50
One day she cAsualz9 rennar1red to her
devQaed partner In HES joys: An
ia q ey1e soeouessto y0sa Mat SAar
tre>e shavs grows tooAerge Id they