Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-06-07
MISCELLANY.
From the Ladies' Book.
WIVES.
ny MISS ANNA MARIA sARcEANr

BY MISS ANNA MARIA sARGEANT.
Or the different relationships Woman is
| called upon by nature to bear, both towards
her own and The opposite sex, perhaps there
| IS none IN which she sfands So prominent as
that of Wife. As daughter she sustains
an interesting character, and beautiful IS it
10 behold her fulfilling The filial duties with
reverence and love. As sister many OF the
most pleasing and gentle traits may be de,
veioPed. AS mother she is placed in a sill
uation OIL the utmos, importance, and where
new and delightful feelings are awakened
INTO existence. But j. is as Ipife she is most
regarded 10y the world, and for that character
all The energies of her nature appear 10 be
brought INTO action.
Al her creation tho duties of wife were
The first she was called upon 10 fulfil, and 81.
oqueht is the description our master poet has
gwen OF her 10 that relations hip-where
scripture 10 silent, he, as with a sunbeam,
has portrayed her in all the holiness of pris.
line purity, and even after her fall touching
~ beautiful is the representation OF her peni.
| 'ence, and willingness 10 bear the whole
weight Of her offended Maker'sire.
In the Situation OF wife oil the great and
ennoblIng virtues Of, as we'll as all the gentle
and tende. affections which pertain Ia The ie-
male character. may be exhibited. The frs,
aud most prominent is her faithfulness: ma
ny are The instances history and biography
record, but there are many whom none but a
clrcumscrloed lew are ac9uaInte With w here
unostentatIousbu uncohquerabie devotion TO
its OBJECT meet alone the reward il eeeks-
Woman is generally esteemed limid and re>
tirIng, and as such she lays the greatest claim
upon man as such in the ordinary affairs of
Lille she is in her most attractive character.
but there are situations where she puts on
the noble courage of the lion instead of the
| gentieness OF the lamb, and il is usually
brought into exercise by the strength OF her
affection as o WDe. Frequently IS she seen
| 10 bear with surprising magnanimity the
dis,resses and difficulties which may over
wheim her partner in them. Frequently is
| she known 10 stem the rough torrent of ad,
versiiy for his sake, when all the world be-
side may have forssken htm. Yes, in the
midst OF his deepest despair che is 10 be seen
whispering pence and consolation, and shed.
! ding halo around the dark chaos of his
| soul
! But the miider and passive virtues are
more commonly exhibited and for these eve
~ honT IN The day must give scope. The
variety Oh iittle disappointments and vexa.
tons, which OF necessity occur (to man more
especially, from his greater intercourse will
the world,) not unusually render the temre,
somewba, irritable, but il is the duty an,
pleasure oi Tho amiable and afTec, tomato viii,
TO endearour 10 soften this irritabiIiy h,
sweetness and f"rbearance, by showing het
Willingness 10 promote bis happiness howev
er The world may irow n-her tenderness ant
affection unchanged, however other friend
may desert-she will by selEaeoisl seek f
advance bis pleasure, by candour dispe. al
doubts that migh,dsrken his confidence an,
by generosity OF thought end word and dee
prove her every interest is swallowed IN i
bic.
by many my picture of w omsn's devoted
ness may be deemed too highly coloured ,bu
lha1e seen her, 10 the character Of wife, al
, una, nave described; have seen her ,ryin
I, to smile away the dislresses n T b;so n ,ybor
her heart ard life was devoted, and when III,
, has iaiied, have seen her answer only by
'esr.a silent, eloquent tear, not intended as
) reProof, bot which Unsolicited what all he
smiles may have failed TO accomplish; bay