The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-07-31

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cred her what 10 fact she really was, to-
,alIv Daft 10 become the mistress or fam
Hy sAnd though her personal attractions
won her considerable attention no man
thought seriously Of making her his wife.
The farmer, the mechanic, wanted COM
panion, who would employ her hand IN
ine duties OF domestic life, and help them
forward in the business Of acquiring
comfortable subsistence. The profession
al man, and The mar, of easy fortune, want
ed wife, who knew how to regulate the
concerns Of family-to guide in the
kitchen or adorn the parlor-in short, to
be a prudent, judicious, and intellectual
companion. Madalena was fit for ncith-
erofthese conditions; and, in consequence
,6t'being brought up lady, run no little
hazard OF continuing maid.
But her charms ofperson prevented 80
grievous a disastcr; and a respectable
nan, whose love had got the better OF his
reason, led her nothing loatb to the altaI
Of Hymen. But sad indeed was his dis
appointment, when conducting her to his
well furnished house, to find, that although
he had plenty Of beef aud hams and fowls
in the larder his dear wife knew not how
10 get his breakfast. Though he had the
finest Of -four, she could not make bread,
and the best Of coffee, yet she could not
prepare a cup ofthat excellent beverage.
She could not make shirt, nor darn a
stocking, nor hem cravat. In short she
knew nothing of household matters.
Love could scarcely subsist on such
terlns. Before the first quarter of the
honey moon, that ofMadaiena's husband
began to cool; and he was sensible foo
late of the folly Of marrying girl who
had been brought up lady. Of all
household goods, he became painfully con
vinced, that vain, idle and ignorant wife,
was the most worthless. Though an en-
,crprising and industrious young man, he
was unable TO maintain wife ior mere
show Iustead of helping hlm forward i'll
the world; she was a perpetual clog upon
his exertions; and instead Of dividing his
cares and increasing his joys, she aggra-
waited the former, and annihilated the Tut
ter.
Certain anecdotes related of the house
hold management Of Mao alena, will serve
10 illustrate the striking effects Of being
brought up lady. In order to save la
bour, she was accustomed to boil her vict-
uals and her clothes together iii the same
vessel. There might be found cheek by
iole, beef and bed clothes, Calls head
and cravats, pork and petticoats, turniPs
and towels, nesting closely together in
the bottom Of the pot; while nearer the sur
face Of the boiling iiqdid, might be seen d
gallant Dutch cabbage dancing waltz
with greasy night cap, and whirling a.
bout in the water in fine style; while an
inch or two off, might be observed barn
door fowl hobbling up and down, and cut
ting capers between pair Of foul stock
ings. =,
As for mending her own husbands
Clothes, that was not to be thought OIL
Instead ofdarning stockings, as fast as the
feet became worn out, they were cut of
and part of the leg let down to become it
selfthe foot, which being removed In its
turn, another portion of the leg was let
down and 80 on, till no more remained,
and the whole leg was successfully con-
yerted into feet, worn out and east aside.
This she called economy, and wondered
how some women could spend SO much
time in darning stockings.
Her clothes she would not wash too Of
ten for fear of wearing them out; and her
face she never washed at all, lest II should
iniure the texture of her skin and spoil Her
beauty. She would not rise early in the
morning, because it was unladyiike; and
when risen would not appear decently
dressed or have any thing decent about
the house, because she had been brought
up lady, instead of being accustomed to
industry and domestic habits.
On such terms, we have said above,
love could not .subsist. For cupid, blind
as he appears, is not destitute of sight; and
tho he may seem careless, TO the cnsoa
bcHolder, he is in reality very partic'!ia'
little gentleman in relation to matters o
dress, and to personal and household neat.
ness. Accordingly, utter one or two
warnings, he raised his wings, and lef
the dwelling of Mndaiena, where ne ha,;
not been seen since. As love grew cool
disgust succeeded, conjugal difference
stepped in, poverty stared the married
couple in the face, the husband died, wea
ry Of life and disappointment; and NADIA
lena. with five children, returned to be