On the Shelf

           InFrancetheyounggirlshaveadulltimeofittilltheyaremarried,when‘Vivelaliberte!’becomestheirmotto.InAmerica,aseveryoneknows,girlsearlysignthedeclarationofindependence,andenjoytheirfreedomwithrepublicanzest,buttheyoungmatronsusuallyabdicatewiththefirstheirtothethroneandgointoaseclusionalmostascloseasaFrenchnunnery,thoughbynomeansasquiet.Whethertheylikeitornot,theyarevirtuallyputupontheshelfassoonastheweddingexcitementisover,andmostofthemmightexclaim,asdidaveryprettywomantheotherday,"I’mashandsomeasever,butnoonetakesanynoticeofmebecauseI’mmarried."

           Notbeingabelleorevenafashionablelady,Megdidnotexperiencethisafflictiontillherbabieswereayearold,forinherlittleworldprimitivecustomsprevailed,andshefoundherselfmoreadmiredandbelovedthanever.

           Asshewasawomanlylittlewoman,thematernalinstinctwasverystrong,andshewasentirelyabsorbedinherchildren,totheutterexclusionofeverythingandeverybodyelse.Dayandnightshebroodedoverthemwithtirelessdevotionandanxiety,leavingJohntothetendermerciesofthehelp,foranIrishladynowpresidedoverthekitchendepartment.Beingadomesticman,Johndecidedlymissedthewifelyattentionshehadbeenaccustomedtoreceive,butasheadoredhisbabies,hecheerfullyrelinquishedhiscomfortforatime,supposingwithmasculineignorancethatpeacewouldsoonberestored.