WHEN WOMAN HOLDS THE REINS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 28

WHEN WOMAN HOLDS THE REINS.

A wife of. the new school has had a cruel truth told her by a heartless doctor. He said her husband would not live long unless he got some rest. Last night, as she sat in an easy chair and watched him take off his coat on coming from the office, put on a gingham apron and go to work cheerfully washing potatoes for supper and pounding steak, occasionally stopping to care for the baby, her heart smote her. She noticed that he looked thin and careworn, and that he brought the bucket only half-full of water from the well. She spoke to him kindly, and her heart smote her a second time when he iooked up surprised. "Was it true that in the- rush and worry of stirring the country up to political truths she had forgotten to be kind to him ? She kissed him tenderly when he handed her a cup of tea at the table, and his eyes filled with tears; it was so long since he had heard a tender word. She praised his biscuits; then be broke down and cried. The result of this tender little scene was that this morning the woman cancelled all lecture engagements and resigned from all committees. She realised that since it would not do to hire a strong girl to assist him with the heavy housework, it would be better for her to stay at home and aid him by tender sympathy and loving words. Oh, wives, take warning from this little tale ! Speak gently to your husbands ere the cold sod closes over them. Praise their coffee and cake. A kind word costs so little and never gets through travelling.—rAmerican paper.