Year: 1862




His glance fell the pale tired and sad face OF his wife
and al his gay vanished MoOdily he seated himself
at the supper tabe--moodily he ate and drank and
mOOdiy he rose and walked away.


A visitor at the board would have wondered what
could have wrought great a change in such moment
Of time But Mrs Freeman understood it very well Il
made however change in her aspect her heart sank
perhaps, tTie lower than it had BEEN but there
hard room for much greater depression than had be-
come habitual to the poor wife.


After supper she followed her husband to her chamber
into which he had retired and had cast himself across
the bed


Mrs Freeman went up to the PROSTATE man and kissed
him without a word Sha then down to her sewing
for she had small sewing room opening out Of her
chamber.


My home pleasant for me to come home to,
al last grumbled the man on the bed


well dear, returned his wife, mildly but sadly,
Il would be glad to make happy for you and to have
you out and come IN IKE visitor 10 be entertained
and amused and who must not be at all burdened by
any Of its cares or perverties would be glad to be
able TO the whole responsibility and care and
the whole labor without calling upon you for aid"
Freeman here sat up, and with eiouded brow re-
Piled


nally pestered with family difficulties. I sick and
tired Of hearing Of bad servants and of bills to pay
The Only time that have to enjoy your society is per
petualy embtered by hearing you complain. It is too
much for any mans patience"


Poor Mrs. Freeman quite out of health. It a
pain and a trouble to her TO move one foot after the
other-she had several small children all about the same
size. Her life daily msrtyrdOm because Of the
way in which matters in the house went The faith



they grew tired of doing it at all, and then, without
word Of warning, of they went leaving chaos, indeed
behind them.


Upon these occasions. instead of taking hold with
hearty good will to help and comfort his afflicted com
pauOn as some husbands do, bless them Mr.. Selfish
was indignant that she did not look and act if
she needed no help, and because she not all ready
for merry times with him the moment he entered the
door He exaced however even to the last shirt but
ton, the considerat both to his wants aud as
to his whimS that was shown him when there were two
servants in the house.


nue housekeeping for her childrens sake, grew quite
discouraged and began look with favor upon the idea
of boarding On the evening alluded to above, she said
to her husband


You do not seem at all to appreciate or enjoy house
keeping, and as for me- it would be much easier to
board"


Why not board them never wanted you to keep
house, I'm Board by all means"


But, husband, it will much for US to board


What do care for money! All care for is 70 have
yOu happy and cheerfnsuee We will board then.
Yes yes, my dear-we will board


tie said this with idea but the thing could be done
easily it could be mentioned. He knew that all he
should do would be 70 walk out of house at
ing and into another at night and he would not trouble
himself with realizing all fuss and confusion, and
and Il, that must Of necessity fall on his weakly wife
house was found the landlady Of which agreed to
allow Mr.. Freeman two large and one small room for
twenty-five dollars per ween. This will do, said be,
and he agreed to there. He thought that the
twenty five dollars not TO cover all expenses-but
when he and his family settled in their quar-
ers he found that wood coal, lights washing servant





selves The first month was up but Freeman brought
home no money to pay his board or to pay the other
bills


1 can't pay any such prices as this" he said to his
wife. d" 1t is out of the question"


But you must pay it husband. 1t is fairly due-I
won't remain in the house unless you pay the board
bill"


The fact is my dear do not ike boarding at all ;
let Us keep house again"


" No am utterly unequal to another move this year.
We must stay as now for the time at first de-
cided on"


And he had to stay he was obliged give up his
large and live in the crowded chambers for whole
year paying to the very extent of what he could posi-
bly, afford for what to him perpetual discomfort
1t was a lesson which that man remembered He was
very fond Of company and he could not have any
he national about everything belonging 10 table
intercourse, and to social intercourse generally and
nobody regarded him he wanted VI hole house
about in, and now he confined TO room He
hated to sleep with children, and he had place
and much did he feel It that he actually volunteered
came that he would himself the house oversee the
moving and his best sdeaUOrs to provide her with
good servants and also that she should always have
money to pay butcher and baker and should be com
fOred and eheered by him whenever she worked
and half sick instead Of being found fault with for not
being all smiles and animation to welcome him home and
for forgetting to mention her playing and pains in pet
ting, cRTessing and amusing him.


On the strength Of these promises Mrs Free
man agreed that she won once more try make for
her family home. Mr. Freeman never again proposed
boarding and he kept all his premises faithfully
you eIDect Of a man.