The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-11-23
THE NEWLYWEDs QUARREL.

THE NEWLYWEDS QUARREE.
With a heavy heart the young bride
said farewell to her parents on the
evening of their wedding day. She
was the sunshine of the house, radiat-I
ing JOY and charm. A new phase of
life was to begin for her, and her
parents could but wish her happiness.
They said that they had done every
thing within their power to properly
rear their daughter, but their con-
science reprimanded them, reminding
them that they had spoiled their child,
had not taught her to yield, to forego
her own opinion, to forbear saying the
word that cut and offended. Every
thing unpleasant had been eliminated
from the girls life; she had never
learned self-control and self-sacrifice.
The honeymoon period over there
were still no gathering clouds on their
domestic horizon. The young bride
was happy, and her husband was de-
votion itself. Weeks and months thus
passed in domestic bliss. Then the
day came when a difference of opin-
ion arose concerning some family af
fair The dispute became acrimoni-
Gus, and as both considered a point
of family honor at stake, neither
would yield. The young wife could
not understand how her husband could
be so obstinate, and his heat of tenn
per was a revelation to her; he who
had promised to make her happy was
now rude and inconsiderate in his
speech. Then she became stubborn,
remaining calm, but by no means
agreeably calm. Clinging to her opin-
ion, she only provoked her husband
with her biting sarcasm.
A loving, conciliating word from her
would have Gained the tempest in the
teapot, but that word was not forth
coming. She had never learned
what it was to yield. At home she
had never encountered such situa-
ton, for she always had her own
way before any friction arose.
1t was her husbands ha1f-holiday
She had looked forward to it with
pleasant anticipation, but now the
whole afternoon was spoiled. The
quarrel had reached a stage where
they maintained sullen silence. After
supper, the husband stared into his
paper, while she pretended to be busy
with her knitting. The dead silence
and oppressive atmosphere about them
became uncanny. Tears welled from
her eyes. Was that to be her share
of happiness? How she had deceived
herself.
No longer able to endure the pain
full silence, she quit the room, and sent
her maid to her parents house to ask
her father to come to her immediate
ly Thereupon she returned to the
room; each one avoided the others
look. Finally father came, having
come in haste, believing that some
misfortune had happened.
Standing erect, but with his face
pale, he said: What is the trouble?
Why have you sent for me at this
late hour?'
Then the wife began to tell her tale
of woe; how unhappy she was; how
rude her husband had been to her.
She told him all, struggling with
tears.
You must tell Henry" she impor-
tuned her father, that he can't treat
your daughter in that manner. I wish
/ had never married, but had staid
at home where everything was pleas
ant and agreeable"
Her husband let her talk, and, after
she had finished he gave his version.
His anger had departed. He spoke
in a matter-of-fact way, but was none
the less firm in his opinion. In con-
clusion, he remarked "She is self
willed to fault and must always
have her own way"
Both of you," the father COM
mented, ARE nothing else than spoiled
and unreasoning children who embit-
ter your own lives because of mere
trifies l really didn't think that you
were so silly. The affair is not worth
taking seriously; it is childish. Come
to me, clasp hands, and forgive each
other the sharp words. And in the
future, when you quarrel, don't let
any one in on your childish affairs;
smooth them out yourselves and leave
your parents out of it.
Abashed, they stood there stiffly
holding each others hands, but the ice
had been broken. The father de-
parted with an anxious look. The
husband stood at the window thought
fully. Then she placed hand on his