Year: 1873

has not asked me to go with him
half dozen times il a dozen years,
l do think"


as it possible, Mrs. Johnsonf
Why, 1 should feel very sad if
thought my husband would ever be
so neglectful of my happiness"
"Oh as for that, / don't know as
Mr.. johnson thinks he neglects me;
he knows I always have so many
cares on my mind that it would be
almost impossible to leave. In fact,
perhaps he's not so much 70 blame,
now when I think of i6. The first
year after I was married he used to
ask me to go with him very often
well, until our Sammy was born; for
some time after that my health was
very poor, and having the care of
him l didn't care for going as l had
previously. Husband used to tell
me it would do me good to get away
from baby awhile and get the fresh
air. But l was so 'fraid something
would happen to the little treasure
during my absence that it was sell
dom he could prevail upon me to go.
Then when Sammy was old enough
to leave, and need less care, a little
baby girl stepped in among US, and
then it was the same story over
again; until I suppose he got tired
of being refused, and thus he ceased
to disturb me with invitations"


"But now your children are so
nearly grown up should think you
might enjoy some of the privileges
and pleasures Of youl halcyon days
again."


"Oh, I don't know! We always
have so much 20 do here; he always
keeps q good many farm hands at
work, and if 1 left my work all to
hired girls we should be without
food in q very short time, they are
so wasteful.


"You need not leave all your work
to the girls; but to leave the work to
them occasionally will do YOU all
good. They will see that you place
confdance in their services, and will
certainly try to do as well as they
can during your absence: and you
will gain rest and strength, and be
better able to perform your duties"


At this time my husband came to
the door with Mr.. johnson, and /
arose to take leave. I was some
what acquainted with our host, so I
said to him, "Next time you ride
over to our house, please invite your
wife to ride over with YOU"


"Well,'' - said he, 'if it would do
any good 1 would like to invite her
often; but she never has any time to
go anywhere,"-turning to her-"do
you, wife?'


"But you can invite her." said /,
before she had time to reply; "won't
you, nov? There'll be no harm
done, and l think she'll come"


He promised to do as requested,
and we took our leave. On our way
back / asked Lewis if he supposed
the time would ever come when he
would cease to invite me to go with
me?


''NOt while you accept the invita-
tions," was the reply. 'But l can
imagine how it would be if, when l
asked you to go, you should refuse
time after time. Pm pretty shure 1
should get tired of hearing the song,
4 can't go, I've so much to do;' and
after awhile l should cease to desire
your company"


81 believe that's the secret of so
many complaints" said /, 'of women
always being obliged to stay at
home"


"That's just it; the fault is their
own. More than two-thirds of the
women Of our land, who complain of
neglect on the part of their hus-
bands, are themselves to blame, at
first, for great share of that neg
lect."


"Why, Lewis, that's q very sweep
ing assertion; two thirds reaches q
long way"


81 know it; but just note it for
yourself. See if, when you 90 back
to the first cause of the majority of
them, you will not own that they
were at the first to blame. lido not
doubt but that some men are negli- |
gent; and some are not careful to
give their invitations when it is con
venient for the wife. Neither did
they know before they were married
what work was to be done; yet the
fair ones would manage to be ready
at the appointed time. Work could
be laid by then; why not afterwards
as well?"


"But, Lewis, just think how much |
better your dinner might have been, |
if l had stayed at home, than it will |
be now. Don't you think 1 would
have shown my love for you better
than in going with you because 1
shall enjoy this glorious morning in |
the open air, if I had stayed at home
and made q nice plum pudding and
broiled you q nice steak? As it is,
you'll have to put up with q cold
dinner to pay for the pleasure of my !
delightful society for the last few
hours"


''Thc dinner will be no disappoint-
ment; for / don't expect you can be
in two places at the same time. Pm
as fond of good living as any one. |
But l believe our hearts need food |
as well as our stomachs; and q good |
dinner would hardly have paid for
the pain 1 should have felt had you
denied me your society"


''Now let me say to those who
have just entered the matrimonial |
state, always keep yourself in readi-
ness to go with your husband at any |
time. Keep your clothes in perfect
repair and your person tidy. Ifyou
chance to have little one to love
and care for, don't be afraid to leave
it occasionally in trusty hands, or
else fix it up prettiiy and take it |
with you. Remember that hearts
need food.


1t is now many years since I took