Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-29
FemaIe Trials.
From the CLuislian Citizen.

Female Trials,
My heart always "sirs within me-" when |
read selections made by editors of newspapers,
even "Chrstian Citizens" which are designed
for its married lady readers, setting forth our
duty with relation to "makug homes happy to
our husbands-that we should always welcome
them with cheerful smile when they come in
from the care and iatigues of the day, and do
all that we can to make married life pleasant to
them, &c. Now, this is WE'LL acknowledge,
and trust strive daily to reduce so good a
theory to practice. But allow me to inquire if
the cares and fatigues of the wife are always
might say, Cccr--apprecated by the husband!
Shall give short sketch of domestic life as
it is--not of course describing a family as it
should be--bnt | wish to give fair example of
every day life at home.
My neighbor, Mr.. Benson, is lawyer by pro-
fession, and is what the world calls respccta-
lie man, His income is small, but he married
lady who was able to furnish their small, house.
handsomely, and they have some hope of prop
eIty in reversion Mrs. B was educated in
modern times, and somewhat fashlonably; so that
the host of evils which ignorant young house
keepers are cher to" came thick and fast upon
her when she started ON the pilgrimage of mat
rimoual life.
But she had firm principles, energy Of char
actcr, and devoted love for her husband-aIl
good stimuIants in the path Of d0ty. She BRAY
ed, like heroine, all the 'Aea-pot tcmpests"
which often come from clouds not so "big as a
mans hand and in due time succeeded in
making cheerful and faithful manager Of their
economical establishment Mrs B. has been
wife twelve years, and is the mother Of five chill
drcn, the youngest but babe, and the family
are as happy a, large portion of families
1t is Monday morning, and this speaks Gun
uterabe things" to a New England wife, who
has been married dozen years. Mr. Benson
has had his breakfast in season-has kissed the
children and gone to the office, where the boy
has a good fire; the books and papers are all in
order, and Mr.. B. sits down to answer a few a.
greeable demands upon his time which will e.
ventuaIIy turn to cash. He goes home to his
dinner puuctually at one O'Clock, it is ready for
him-he takes IT quietly, perhaps lrolics ten
minutes with the baby, and then hulries back to
the office. AT the hour for tea he goes home
every thing is cheerful; and to quote the rhyme
of an Old song,
The hearth was clean, the fire was clear,
The kettle on for tea
Benson was in his rocking chair
Ana blessed man could be-
But now has it been with Mrs b. through the
day! She has an iIl-natured girl in the kitchen
who will do half the work ORiy, at nine shings
per week. Monday morning, eight o'clock
four children must be ready for school, Mrs B.
must sponge their faces, smooth tier hair, and
sec that books, states and pencils, paper, pocket
handkerchels, Eyes, four of Them arc all in or
der; and now the baby is crying, the fire is low;
it is time Sally should begin to wash, the parIor
the chamber, the breakfast things are all waiting
Well, by a song to the baby, who lies kicking
in the cradle, a smlle to smooth rufled Sally
and with all the energy that mind and body can
summon things are Strengthened out" and the
lofty pile, of a weeks rearing, begins to grow
less; but time shortens with tit is almost din.
ner time; by some accident the oiut of meat is
Grozen-company caIls--Mr Benson forgot tC
get any eggs on Saturday-Mrs B. must do the
next best way-the bell rings tweve-the door
opens, and in rush the children from SCHOOL,
John has torn his pantaoons-Mary must have
some money, then, to get a new thimble, she
has just lost hers William has cut his finger
with piece of glass, and is calling loudly fol
his mother.
Poor Mrs. Benson endeavors to look cheerful
aud look delighted in the hubbub; and now the
dinner, by her efforts alone, is upon the table
her husband comes in, and perhaps wonders the
"pie is not little better warmed +" and with this
comment, and smile on the baby, he is off till
it is time for tea. | forbear to finish the day
Mr. Editor, and shall only say, the afternoon il
made up of little trials, too small to mention, bu
large enough to try the faith and patience of al
the patriarchs
Now, sir this wife has surely ''borne the bur
den and heat of the day." her limbs are wearieC
her whole energy Of body and mind exhausted
and she is exhorted to "weIcome her HUSBAND
with smile" She does it, for in woman low
is STRONGER than death | would ask should no