Year: 1873




wives and children have any claim.


upon them save such as the bestowa


of shelter, food and clothing will sup


ply.


They apparently overlook the facl


that this worlds goods cannot ol


themselves furnish mental comfort. OF


make home happy. They do not con-
slider that there is q lack-a hunger,


which kindness and sympathy can


subdue; nor realize that their wives


must have the society of the ones


whose companionship has been chos-


en-, and that children need entertain


ment and caresses which fathers
love can alone supply.


The whole aim o. this people seems
to be the acquisition of the almighty
dollar" and the motto is, "drive
ahead regardless of consequences, so
that sordid ambition be satisfied in
the competition which is raging to
hare as much or a little better than
ones neighbors.


A look into one home will show
us what is transpiring in the mean
time under thousands of others, and
with similar results. While the hus-
band is toiling in his eager grasp af-
ter riches, the wife is often at home
lonely, down-hearted- wishing for
some one to keep her company,
yearning for that counsel, that loving
sympathy which is her right, and
mourning in sadness (perhaps in
tears) because her husband can
scarcely spend an hour in her society.
And, when he does return to his home
after the busy cares of the day
should have been brought to close,
he is tired, it may be perplexed, and
does not notice his wife who meets
HIM at the door, nor seem to care for
her presence; he throws himself into
an easy chair to rest his weary frame
and gives himself up to continued
thoughts of the transactions he has
just finished; reviews mentally the
affairs that have gone wrong during
the day, plans to recover this or that
loss; and is totally oblivious of the
would-be. comforters around him, or
the attentions performed for his spe-
cial happiness. He does not ask for
his children, and if one Of them
should happen to come to him he
sends him or her away, and the little
one goes to ma; she is always ready
to hear all complaints, and kiss the
little, pouting lips raised to hers.


The wife bears up under such
treatment as long as she can, but na-
turc will give way in time, and the
once light-hearted, loving weman
sinks under her load Of bad feeling
and becomes like her husband,
gloomy, distracted and sad; the COM
pany Of her children does not satisfy
all the wants Of her heart, and too
frequently she is tempted to seek re-
lief from the home atmosphere in the
in the gay rounds of pleasure; the
children are left at home while the
mother goes to parties and different
places of amusement; but still, the
husband does not see his mistake, he
comes to tea-his wife is not at home,
and he returns to his labor, which is
often protracted until a late hour at
night. And now comes the end-the
wife has gone, leaving husband and
children; and when it is too late the
husband sees the error Of his course,
the ruin brought upon his household,
the disgrace heaped upon the heads
of his innocent children, himself left
alone. Who is to blame?


Husband, spend some of your time
with your wife and children, say three
Of your waking hours each day.
When your wife meets you at the
door always have kind word and a
kiss for her, and smile for each Of
your little ones; or, if upon your re-
turn home you find your wife busy,
go to her and greet her with kiss;
you need not be afraid of giving her
too many, they will always be wei
come at any time. / am an old man
and know it to be true; meet your
wife at all times and in all places with
a kind word or loving kiss and you
will generally find her at home, and a
welcome waiting you to cheer you
after your hours of daily toll.


And the little ones: take them upon
your lap, tell them stories of your
own youth and listen to their little
joys and grievances; sit down on the
carpet and gather them around you,
if they should pull your ears when
playing horse it won't be killing
affair; romp with them, 1t will do
you good. l have been rolled all
over the carpeted floor many times,
oy my little girls, and it was fun for
ne, and would be to-day, but they
have homes of their own now; and l
am alone. can pet their little ones
when ! see them, but they are many
miles away; some of them are far off
on the Eastern shore, while / am sit
ting at Sioux City on the big
writing this to you. Yet |
owe to recall those old sports, and
some time l will tell you more of
hem; and l can but look with pity
loon the care-worn fathers l meet
everywhere, who think they have no
eisure to devote to their little bright
eyed, sunny-faced darlings that are
onging to nestle in their arms, and
eel the kind caress Of "Pa's" hands.
For soon, oh! too soon, childhood's
years will have passed away, and
hese little prattlers, if spared by
Heavens kindly hand, will have out
grown their childish joys and put on
The sober garments of care, while the
golden portals of theis hearts best
treasures will not be as easy of access
IS now; then enter into their conf
lence, their plans and happiness ,chile
/Ou may. EDMUND.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa, June. 1873.


He looked like sailor and said he