THE CARPING WOMAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2664, 20 November 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE CARPING WOMAN.

(By Ella Wheeler Wilcox.) There was a woman who prided herself upon her. virtues. ' -She was the. soul of honor; she paid . nor debts promptly, and never allowed a borrowed postage stamp, even, to be charged against her in the memory of a friend. She was economical and thrifty; she saved, arid managed, and helped her husband to grow in fortune. She was cliaste and virtuous, arid no breath of gossip ever blurred her good name. She was unselfish in her impulses to lid the needy and to work for the poor and unfortunate. Her neighbors called her “an excellent woman.” '• ' Yet this woman killed the love which her husband felt for. her when they were married, and drove him from his home to find cheerfulness and distraction elsewhere. . Early in the married life of'this couple the husband bad been inclined cO. bring home little gifts; he enjoyed surprises; but never once did he succeed in agreeably surprising his wife. If he brought her. a ring, she expressed her regret that it was not a bracelet; if a bracelet followed, she wished it had been a chain ; when the chain came, it was too long, or too short, or not the right design. The habit grew upon her to such a degree that the husband ceased trying to surprise her. He allowed her to make her own choice of gifts. But whenever he attempted to supply household needs, he found the same difficulty. Even a ton of coal called forth carping criticisms; it was the wrong kind of coal ; and when assured by the dealer that it was exactly what had been ordered previously, the woman devoted an entire meal hour to talking of the untruthfulness of tradesmen. Purchases made in dry goods establishments were returned and exchanged for others, -almost invariably. The husband was urged to reprove the salesmen and saleswomen and floor walkers, and merchants for their shortcomings, and when he declined to do so he was called unsympathetic and cowardly to allow organisations of tradespeople to impose upon his wife without a protest, etc., etc. Always was this woman finding fault with somebody or something. After she had selected and paid for a set of furniture, or a carpet, she was displeased with the result, which was due, she thought, to bad light in the salesrooms; and ever after she complained of her disappointment in the effect of her purchase. _ And so, after many years of life with this woman, a very good man, with a kind heart and a peaceful riatnre and a great longing for a happy domestic life, became a club devotee and played cards and drank more ivine than was good for him, and rarely qpent an evening at home. And then sympathetic neighbors and church friends said how terrible it was that such a good woman should be so neglected by her husband! And the good woman wore the face of a martyr, and said men were never satisfied with kind, pure, economical, home-making wives—that it was the degenerate nature of man to stray away from such companions to clubs and gaining tables.