Year: 1871

RULED BY KINDNESS.

 The fact is that there is come crisis in the lives Of my nephew and his wife, and I want to see how she is going to manage it. The crisis is a very simple one; it comes at some time to most mar ried lives, and much of the misery of that state is due to the fact that wives do not always know. how to manage it. The crisis is that one which results from the change common and natural to all human ity, when the passion of the lover changes into the purer but quieter affection of the husband in possession. I doubt if any young, unmarried readers and married folks yet in their honeymoon will under stand what I allude to, but those who prehend it. It is usual for every lover to swear that though there have been in stances where the affection of husbands has become less demonstrative after a year or two of married life, bis case will prove an exception and it is because his young wife, who loves him just as in tensely, does not comprehend that he is mistaken, and must of necessity grow less demonstrative, just as fire goes out if more coal is not supplied, that they are so often unhappy. thiak my little lady is too sensible to wreck her happiness on this rock, and I have looked forward to this crisis with eager interest.

 She and Peter have been married three years now, and he is just beginning to grow cold. I don't mean that he is less fond of Nellie, but he doesn't tell her so as often as he used to- He IS, not as persist ently devoted to her as he was two years ago, and even year ago. I don't mean that he does not love her as intensely, but that he don't tell her so as often. He used to kiss her frequently before me he has changed his idea on that subject, as knew he would, and now thinks that it is unnecessary, not to say improper, to be too demonstrative before folks. Of late, he has even taken to dining out without Nellie, and couple of weeks ago he joined a club

 The idea of an American gentleman, with American habits, belonging to club It's preposterous. Their whole education units them for enjoying club life; and the institution would have DO existence ii our society did not possess an insane de sire to initiate foreign society. With hardly taste, idea, or principle, social religious, or political, in common with the English or French, we are always imita. ting them-weakly, of course ; and so ap- pear to the foreigners who come in con- tact with uA like parvenus rather than gentlemen. And the most pernicious o our limitations is the social and politica club we shall have religious clubs event ually.

 Peter has joined social club, and h' wrote note from the office to-day saying he would be home to an early dinner thi afternoon, Tn order to attend club meet ing this evening" There is to be some sort of reception of sort of a person disreputable character, I suppose, al ladies are not to be present.

 Nellie did not get the note until abou three o'clock. She handed it to me with out 8 word of comment, aud rang thu servants bell at the same time.

 "Peter's an ass n' I exclaimed, ol reading 1t, and finding she said nothing.

 ssOh, Uncle John!" she cried, "ain' you ashamed to talk so of your owl blood relations What am I to think c you p

 s'You might think the same of me and think just right, too-if I neglecte you in this way" 1 answered, little tim idly, for 1 wanted to draw her out with out making her think 1 was in earnest She did not answer for some seconds, aF bearing to be in meditation; think sh was waiting, however, for the appearanc of the servant, who came in answer t the bell before Nellie spoke again.

 "Dinner at five to day, Jane,' she saio and the incest you can get up." Whe the girl had disappeared she added, |" don't think you do Peter justice. H does not neglect me, 1 am sure."

 "He's not as fond of you-o

 sNow, I think he is, Uncle John; an . I must say I don't like you to you te me he ain't. He's Eardly-well, nc quite so noisy as he used to be; br then you used to preach to us when W were in our honeymoon that we woul get over our foolish billing and cooing."

 We'll, you have.o

 And now you blame us for being ec' nomical of our demonstrations. l don believe he loves me any less and al sure I love him more to-day than kne how to then. He doesn't neglect me b cause he goes out sometimes without mt and I don't complain of it, and you nu not say anything to him about his goir out. Do you hear"

 ''Yes, ma'am, do; and I'H promise faithfully obey" And very glad I was promise, for l felt sure she was going play the wise wife,

 We did not discuss Peter any more, ar relapsed into silence, which the arrival his note had broken. But we had n, long to chew the cud of our fancies.

 don't know whether they were bitter sweet to Nellie, but mine were pleasal enough. The door bell rang about hs past four, and, instead of Peter, in came Nj Perkins, Peters partners wife, very el gant but rather highstrung woman. Sl was evidently in one of her i'll humol with which we were only too familiar, al at once anticipated a scene.

 :sGood evening, my dear," she sai when the servant had shown her into t sitting-room, where we sat before t comfortable fire. "Good evening, Unt John." She always calls me Uncle Joh though there was no relationship betwe us. Her father and had been busin' partners for years At his death he | his share of the business to Perkins, and reti1 ed in favor of my nephew Peter.

 have come in to condole with you" s added, to Nellie.

 "Indeed! And what for ?"

 "I suppose you are left widow for