The native American., 1840-05-09
MIS- G. e l. l. A N Y.
From the Neto5uryport Watchtower.
CHAPTER FOR YOUNG HUSBANDS.

who had been confined week or two by sick
ness TO his room, he remarked that a husband
might learn a good lesson by being confined
occasionally to his house, by having in this
way all opportunity of witnessing the cares
and the never ending tolls of the wife, whose
burden and duties, and patient endurance he
might never have otherwise understood
There is a great deal in this thought, perhaps
enough for an "editoriaL" Men, especially
young men, are called by their business du-
ring the day mostly away from home, return
ing only at the hours for meals, and, as they
then see nearly the same routine of duty, they
begin TO think that it is their own lot to per-
form al the drudgery, and to be exercised
with all the weight of care and responsibility.
But such man has got a very wrong view
of the case; he needs an opportunity for more
extended observation, and it is perhaps for
this very reason that kind Providence ar
rests him by sickness, that he may learn in
pain what he would fail to observe in health
We have wives, especially young wives-ex-
posing their faults, perhaps magnifying them
and expoundng to them, seen recently a
great many things said in the papers too in
nolIe of the klndest terms of the duty and
. Offices pertaining to "woman's sphere" Now
we believe that wives as a whole are really
better than they are generally admitted to be:
We doubt if there can be found q large num-
Der of wives who are dlsagreeabe and negli-
gent, without some payable GOODNESS or short
coming on the part of their husbands. So
4 far as we have had opportunity of observation,
| they are far more devoted and faithful than
those who style themselves their lords, and who
by customs of society have other and gener-
I a)v r,laocant and ria6 6i1tioS to
form We protesttnen, against these lectures
ladies, and insist upon it, that they must
most of them-have been written by some
| flsty bachelors, who knew no better, or by
some inconsiderate husbands who deserved to
be old bachelors to the end of their lives But
is there nothing to be said on the other side
Are husbands so generally the perfect, aania-
bic, injured beings, they are soo(ten represent
ed? Men sometimes declare that their wives
extravaganza have picked their pockets, that
their never ceasing tongues have robbed them
oftheir peace, and their general disagreeabIe-
ness has driven them to the tavern and the ga
ming table; but this is generally the wicked
excuse for most wicked life, on their own
part. The fact is, men often lose their inter
est in their homes bytheir own neglect to make
their homes interesting and pleasant. Itshould
never be forgotten that the wife has her rights
as sacred after marriage as beforehand a
good husbands devotion to the wife after mar
rage, will concede to her quite as much atten-
ton as his gallantry did while lover. If it
is otherwise he most generally is at fault
Take few examples. Before marriage a
young man would feel some delicacy about
accepting an invitation to spend an evening
in company where his "lady love" had not
been invited After marriage is he always as
particular? During the days of courtship,
his gallantry would demand that he should
make himself agreeable to her; after marriage
it often happens that he thinks more of being
agreeable to himself. How oftenit happenstha
married men, after having been away from
home the ivelong day, during which the wife
has tolled at her duties, 60 at evening again
| to some place of amusement and leave her to
| toll on alone, uncheered and unhappy. How
| often it happens that her kindest offices pass
unobserved, and unrewarded even by smile,
and her best efforts are condemned by the
| fault finding husband. How often it happens,
even when the evening is spent at home that
it is employed in silent reading, or some other
way that does not recognize the wife's right
to share IN the enjoyments even of the FIRE
side
Look, we husbands, moment, and remenl-
Der what your wife was when you took her,
not from compulson, but from your own
choice; choice, based, probably, on what you
then considered her superiority to all others
She was yomg-perhap the idol of happy
| home, she was gay and blithe as the lark, and
the brothers and sisters at her fathers fire.
side, cherished heras an object of endearment
Yet she left all to join herdestiny with yours
to make your home happy, and to do all that
womans love could prompt, and wonlans in
genuity devise, to meet your wishes, and to
tighten the burdens that might press upon you
| in your pilgrimage. She, Of course had her
expectations too. She could not entertain fee
lings which promised so much, without for
ming some idea of reciprocation on your part
and She did expect you would, after marriage
perform those KIND offices, of which YOU were
so lavish in the days of betrothment She be-
came your wite-left her home for yours.
burst asunder, as it were. the bands of love
which had bound her TO her fathers fraei lido