The native American., 1840-03-14

holds it to be one of the very first duties Of
life to render her home delightful, first to her
husband, next to her children, and then to all
who may enter her hosptable doors. Early
in life, she observed that several of her hus-
bands intimate acquaintance were becoming
irregular in their habits she talked it over.
with Nelson. He, being rough man, de-
cared it to be his intention to break off all
conncxion with Lang aud Shepherd on the
spot 90, no, husband J" said she that
would be cruel: remember the proverb, IL soft
word breaketh the bone Let me alone to
bring them to their bearings; at any rate give
me month for an experiment" sYou p he
exclaimed, in astonishment; "Mary you amaze
me- surely you will not follow them to the
bar-room, as Jemima Murphy does her good
man "Perhaps not" said his wife, laughing
''but we women have some secrets LETT still.
Wait but a month"
The month rolled round 1t was With
difficulty that Nelson kept himself from falling
upon the two men violently, but he waited to
sec the issue and even kept ont of their way,
that the Incarnation might not be Interrupted
AT the close Of three weeks, Lang and Shep-
herd Were two of the most quiet, orderly and
domestic men in the neigEborhood "Why,
| Mary" said Nelson, "Wl,at lave you, been do
ing to them2" II husband have not es-
changed words with them for weeks" ''iich
you have had some wilch-crait at work"
"None in the world she replied; ''the story
is soon related had observed for Il long time
that their homes were growing dismal: and
often told Mrs. Lang what feared concerning
her husband Indeed, had heard you tell OF
Lang's repeating over his glass that abomina
BILE saying, the devils at home After my
talk with you set to work, not on the hls,
bands, but their wives. Simple creatures
they scarcely knew what | meant. They
wished indeed that the men would spend more
time at home, and even wept about their late
hours and beer drinking. But they were moi
prepared for my telling them that they must
redoubie the attractions Of their own fireslde
make the cheer better--thc fire brighter
the children cleaner-the house tidier-the
welcome heartcr; call in a pleasant neighbol
to tea, or friends daughter to sing an in
nocent song, and even invite to comfortable
supper two or three of theifhusband's cronies
Before long they began to have pleasan
evenings !; and by choice of company,
little good fruit, lemonade, homemade cake
and music, fairly convinced the two men thai
they could go pleasantly to bed without ale
porter, or branded wine. The thing has taken
admirably, and you see the result"
Now though it is likely Nelson did not jus
then suspect il, this was the very course which
had proved successful in saving himself from
\ ruinous habits And most earnestly it is tc
be wished that all our towns and villages were
filled with such wives as honor and love the
family institution Every one has made the
observation that there arc many more women
who are religious, than men; but the fna
cause Of this has not so often been remarked
Divine Providence, by this discriminating
favor 10 the one sex, pours influence into the
social fountain. As are the mothers of ma
ton, so will be the sons, and, in a measure
the husbands. But to exercise full influence
the wife must be keeper at home. She viii
find enough to employ her longest days, il.
the endless circle Of household cares. While
she will welcome the evening visiter, and Of
ten enlarge her frugal board for the bevy o
friends, or even join the social party or The
cheerful sleighride, these things will be the
exceptions, not the rule. So living, she will
give happiness to the increasing circle. ''Her
children arise and call her blessed her hus-
band also and he praiseth her."