Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-05-05
A CHAPTER FOR YOUNG HUSBANDS

by their business during the dav mostly
away from nome, returning only at the
hours Tor meals, and as they then see near.
~ the SAM" routine of duties, thew begin
4" think that it is their own lot to nerforp,
all the dr"dsery, and to be exercised with
all The weight Of care and responsib;l;,v
But such man has got very wrong view
ct the case; he needs an opportunity Of
more extended observation, and it is per-
haps for this very reason that kind Prov
'dence sometimes arrests him by sickness.
thaf he may learn in pain what he would
TAIL t" observe in health. We have seen
recently good many things said in, the ma
p'rs t" wives, especially to young wives,
exposing their faults, perhaps magnifying
mem, and expounding to them, in none Of
The kIndess terms, their duty and the Offices
pertaining to "woman's sphere" Now
we oelIeve that wives, as a whole, are raal.
~ better than they are generally admitted
to be. We doubt il there can be foupd i.
large number Of wives who are di,apreea.
bic and negligent, without some uaInable
c"I''ness or short coming on the mar, Of
Their highlands. So far as We have had am
opportunity for observation, they are far
more devo'ed and faithful than those who
style themselves their lords, and who, bv
the customs Of society, have other and gem
orally more pleasant duties to perform.
we protest, then, against these lectures so
"tlrn md SO obrusively addressed to the
ladies', aud insist upon 1t that they must
most "fthem--have been written nv SOME
tasty old bachelor, who knew no better. or
ny some inconsiderale husbands who de-
serve I" have been bachelors to the end Of
''elr lives. Bot is there nothing to be
SAID on the other side7 Are husbands SO
generally the perfect, amiable, injured bo.
'"ss they are 5" often represented Men
sometimes declare that their wives extrav.
"g"nce have picked their pockets, aud that
'"''r never ceasing tongues have robbed
'hem o' their peace, and their general dis.
agreeahfen"ss has driven them to the tay-
e." and gaming table ; but this is generally
the wicked excuse for most wicked f;fe
ON their l'Hrt. The fact is, men often lose
'he'r interest in their homes bv their neo-
'ect I" make their homes Interesting and
PHEASANT. II should never be- forgotten that
'he wife has her vighs-as sacred after
marriage as Beforehand "a good husbands
devotion 10 the wife after marri,o. v;u
c"nceds I" her quite rs much al,cntien ma
his g"IIantry did while lover. nj, is 9TH
ef~'sc, ne most generally is ut fault. How
"""n 1t happens that married men. after
having been away from, home the live-lonu
day. during which the wife has ,oiled A.
her duties, go at evening again to some
pace ct amusement, and leave her tn toll
pass Hn0bseived, and unrewarded even bv
smile, and her best efforts are condemned
by the ianl-fnding husband. How often
1t happens, even when The evening is spent
at home, that it is employed in silent read
ing, ar some other way that does not re.
cognize The wiG''s right 10 share in the en-
joyments Of The frcside.
Look, ye husbands, moment, and re-
member what ynnr wife was " hen you took
her not from c"mpulsion, bat from your
own choice; choice, based, probably, on
what y"n then considered her superiority
I" all others. She was young ; perhaps
he idol of happy home she was gay and
bfI'he as the lark, and the brothers and sis
tiers nj her fathers Preside cherished her
as an object Of endearmen,. Yet she left
all to join her destiny with yours to make
y""r h"me happy, and do all tina, woman's
love could prompt and woman's ingenuity
devise. to meet your wishes, and to lighten
the burdens which might press upon you
in yonr pilg. image. She of course, had
her expectations too. She could not en-
terrain feelings which promised so much,
without forming some idea Of reciprocation
ON your part, and she did expsc, you would
after marriage perform those kind Offices
OF which you were SO lavish in the DAYS of
betr"thment. She became your wife left
her own home for yours burst asunder, as
IL were, the bands Of love which had bound
her to her fathers Preside. and sought no
other boon Than your affections; left, it
may be-, The ease and del:cacy Of home
OF indul sencr, and now, what must be her
feelings, if she gradually awakcs to the
consciousness that you love her less than
before; that your evenings are spent
abroad that you only coa,e home at all To-
satisfy the demand Of your hunger, and ,o
find resting place for your head when
weary, or muse for your sick chamber
when diseased
Why did she leave the bright hearth of
her youthful daysl Why did you ask her
10 give up the enj"yments of a happy
home Was il simply to darn your stock
ings. mend your clothes, take care Of your
children, and watch over your sick bed p
Was it simply to conduce to your owm
comfnrtl Or was there some understand
ing tina, she was 10 be made happy 10 her
connection with the man she dared To love
r. A a