Francis Bourdillon, 1873

John Bell went straight home from his work. He needed rest and food, for he was both tired and hungry. He opened the door, but there was nothing pleasant within. The room was untidy, the floor unswept, the windows uncleaned, the table covered with everything that ought not to have been there, and nothing that ought. There was no tea ready, or likely to be ready, no kettle boiling, hardly any fire in the grate.

Mrs. Bell was there indeed, but she was doing nothing to make things comfortable. She was scolding one of the children at the top of her voice. There was no comfort there.

So John Bell seemed to think, for he muttered something and shut the door and went inside—and five minutes later, he was drinking beer beside a snug fire at the tavern.

Next day at about the same hour John Bell went home again. All was quiet as he went up the stairs. "Perhaps there'll be some peace and comfort today," he said to himself. Peace enough certainly, for there was no one there to make a noise, but not much comfort. The house looked much the same as yesterday—cold, cheerless, and uncleaned. Again the man turned on his heel; again he took refuge at the tavern. Where was his wife? The last that was seen of her was about half an hour before, when she was seen going down the street with her shawl thrown over her head—but no one saw her after that. As for the children, they might be anywhere. Now, Mrs. Bell, what have you to say to this?

"Oh, it is not my fault. You don't know what a life he leads. It's no use my striving, when he drinks away his money and then comes home and abuses me. I'm not going to slave for him any more. And as for drink, why shouldn't I have a drop now and then, as well as he?"

I dare say what you say is partly true. Your husband is a drinking man; and when he is drunk, he does not treat his wife and children as he ought. It is very bad. But shall I tell you what you are doing? You are making bad things, worse. You say yourself, "He gets worse and worse." Then he was not always as bad as he is now?"

"No," you reply; "he was always fond of drinking, but he used to come home a deal more than he does now."

"Well, when he used to come home, did you take care that he would find his home comfortable? Was the room always swept clean? Was his tea ready for him? Did you speak kindly to him, as if you were glad to see him come home? In fact, was his home such as to tempt him to come to it again?"

Ah, you say nothing! I can see how it has been. Only consider. Why this very day, and yesterday too—your husband would have had his tea at home and perhaps not gone out again, if you had been there with a pleasant temper and a clean room and the kettle boiling and the tea set. And if he had found this yesterday and today, perhaps he might have come again, and learned to like his home better than the tavern.

"But I didn't know he was coming."

"But you should have been ready for him, all the same. Take a word of advice. You wish your home to be different from what it is, I am sure—and your husband to be different, yes and yourself also. Now, do not sit down in despair, as if things could not be mended. Try to mend them. Do your part at least. You are making bad things, worse now. Try to make bad things, better. Invite your husband to come home and make all comfortable for him. If he scolds—don't you scold in return. If he drinks, don't you drink. Be kind, gentle, and forbearing. Be what a wife ought to be to him. Don't think of all that he has done wrong. That will do no good. Give him a good home to come to, and thus lead him away from drink and from sin. You don't know what a wife may do.

"Do you ever pray? I fear not. Ah, what a friend you lose! What help and comfort you might have, just for the asking! Will you not begin? God is very gracious. Jesus is the Savior of all who seek Him in faith. God will give His Holy Spirit to those who ask. Trouble should lead us to prayer. You are in trouble. Then pray. Pray for pardon, grace, wisdom, help. Pray for yourself, for your husband, for your children. Pray God to make you what a wife and a mother ought to be. Pray Him to help you to make your home what a home ought to be. Do but seek God for your Friend through Jesus Christ, and all may yet be well."