Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-01
TO THE WIFE.

mate sphere. Ii you are not satisfied
with the divine arrangements, how can
you expect to enjoy domestic peace'-
Even nature itself may teach you that
YOU are not to grasp after dominion
"Suncr not woman," said Paul to Tim
othy, "to usurp authority over the man. !"
1t is equally the law of reason and scrip
turc, that you should "be in subjection to
your husband" that YOU should "submit
yourself unto" him "as it is fit in the
Lord" that Gas the church is ubjcct un-
to Christ" so you may be to your hus-
band "in every thing" How sadly, in
general, are those families governed
where the wife forgets her proper sphere,
and takes upon herself the rens of gov
crnment A man ofgcnerous spirit must
feel himself ds.ustcd by the conduct of
a woman who would trample him in the
dust that she may raise herself to an un-
natural and perions distinction. 1fever
you attempt to rule, let it be by the force
of character, by the well known charm
of female influence, by that gentleness of
spirit and behaviour which few mon are
able to resist. If you have married n
fool, do not tell every one, by your au-
thoritativc mandates, that you have done
so; and if you have married n wise man,
do not prove yourselfto be a fool by con-
stantly placing him in the attitude of sub
lection.
! BE it your uniform aim to acquit your
self well IN The circle Of your o'rn duties
Your true importance consists not in ~
surpation, but in discharging with dill
gencc the obligations which Providence
has devolvcd on you. L 2on your good
sense, prudence, and forethought as n
housewife, will greatly depend the COM
fort OF your family, tho honor of your
husband, and the esteem Of friends. A
thousand elegant accomplishments will
not make up for the garing want of do
mestic character. 1t is not necessary
yon should prescribe yourself the indul-
gence of tasteful, or even literary pur-
suits; but if you become a slattern in as
piring to the distinctions of authority,
your husband will have little reason to
boast Of your pre-emncnce. Whatever
be your station in life, it is essential to
the well being Of your family that the du-
ties belonging to n Christian wife should
be regarded by you as so entirely yours,
that they can never, except by unavoid-
able circumstances, be consigned into
other hands. How lovely is the aspect,
and how sweet the harmony of those fam
lies where woman is raised to her appro-
pirate sphere, and where, silently and
unobtrusively she addresses herself, from
day to day, to the conscientious discharge
OF her peculiar duties! But, on the 9TH
or hand, what fearful disorder must pre-
vail in that domestic c:;clc, where the
presiding influence Of woman is not felt,
or where it is felt only as an evil genius
exerting fitful and pernicious control!
Let the christian wife take all necessary
pains therefore, to know the place as
signed to her by God, and by the usages
Of society, and let her not fail to do JUS
tice to her own convictions in cheerlully
following where duty and conscience
point the way.
Let your personal appearance receive
as much of your attention as the nature
Of the ubject may warrant. In decid
ing upon this matter, however, your sta
ton in life must be duly regarded, as
well rs the resourcesyou may possess
1t is great stain upon the female cha
racter when wife is disposed to dress
too extensively. Many indiscrcet men
have been ruined by yielding to the per-
sOnal extravagance Of their ill-judging
wives. Surely the happiness of sensi-
bic and virtuous mind cannot depend on
the silly and contemplate ornament Of
gaudy apparel. Nothing but defective
education, or an overnowing vanity can.
lead to the cultivation of taste so pre-.
posterous. There is happy medium in
dress, ns in most other things; and pru-
dent wife will seek TO observe it. She
will avoid the extreme of fastidious ele.
gance on the one hand, and Of affected
negligence on the other; and will aim at
the habitual exhibition of that agreeable
neatness which all approve and most ad-
mire. The prevailing love of gay
clothing" in woman. is seldom associated
with uniform attention to habits Of every
day precision and cleanliness,-so essen.
tlal to the uninterrupted enjoyment Of
domestic comfort. If you are to fall in
to any extreme, let it not be that of care
lcssncss Of your personal habits and ap-
pearance. Many grieve their husbands
and do discredit to themselves, by sinking
into total Indifference upon all subjects
connected with dress, family arrange
ments, and domestic intercourse. The !
contrast between their present and for
mer appearance IS so great, that no in
teligem observer can be unconscious of
it, Marriage seem to have put stop to
all their honorable ambition. To please
their husbands, crafty their friends, and