Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-31
Female Trials.

My heart always stirs within me-" when
read selections made b, editors of newspapers even
Christian Citizens" which are designed Cor its
married lady readers, setting forth our duty with
relation to making homes happy 10 our husbands
that we should always welcome them with
cheerful smile when they come 10 from the care
aud iatigues Of the day, and do all that we can 10
make married life pleasant to them, &C." Now,
this is well, acknowledge, and | trust l strive
daily to reduce so good theory TO practice. But
allow me TO inquire IL the and fagues of the
wife are always-I might say, e1er-appreciaied by
the husband.
Shall give short sketch Of domestic life as il
is-noi Of course describing a fnnily as il should
be-bnt wish to give fair example Of every day
life al home.
My neighbor, Mr. Benson, is lawyer by profes.
sion aud IS what the world calls respectable man
His income is small but he married lady who
was able 20 furnish their small house, handsomely
and they have some hope of properly in reversion
Mrs. Is. was educated in modern times, and some
what fashi0naby; so that the host Of evils which
ignorant young house.keepers are their to- came
thick and fast upon her when she started on the
pilgrimage OF matrimonial life.
But she had firm principles, energy Of charac.
ter. and devoted love for her husband-all good
silmulants in the path Of duty. She brayed. like
heroine, all the teapot tempesis" which often
come from clouds not so "big a mans handr
and in due time succeed in making cheerful and
faithful manager Of their economical establishment
Mrs. b. has been wife twelve years, and is the
mother Of five children, the youngest but babe,
and the family are as happy as large portion of
families.
], IS Monday morning. and this speaks " unui-
ierable things" to a New England wife, who has
been married a dozen years. Mr. Benson has had
his breakfast in season--has kissed the children
and gone 10 the Office, where the boy has good
ire; the books and papers all in order, and Mr.
u. sits down TO answer few agreeable demands
upon his time, which will eventually turn to cash.
lie goes home to his dinner punclualIy al one
o'clock, il is ready for him--he takes il quietly,
perhaps; frocs ten minutes with the baby, and
then hurries back 10 the Office. At the hour for
tea he goes home-eyery thing is cheerful and to
quote the rhyme Of an Old song,
The hearth was clean. the fire was clear,
The kettle for tea;
Benson in his rocking chair,
And dressed as could be.
But how has il been with Mrs. b. through the
day. She has ill.nalured girl in the Kitchen
who will do half the work only, at nine shlngs
per week. Monday morning, eight o'clock -four
children must be ready for school Mrs b. must
sponge their faces, smooth their hair, and see that
books, states aud pencils, paper, pocket handker.
chiefs, (yes four Of ihem.) are all in order aud
now The baby is crying, the fire is low; il is time
Sally should begin TO wash, the parlor, the cham
Der, the breakfast things are waiting. Well, by a
song TO the baby who lies kicking in the cradle, a
smile to smooth ruffled Sally and with al the ener-
gy that mind and body can summon, things are
Strengthened out" and the lofty pile, Of a weeks
rearing, begins 10 grow less; but time shorcns
with tit is almost dinner time; by some accident
The joint Of meat is frozen-company calls-Mr
Benson forgot TO get any eggs on Saturday-Mrs.
Is. must do the next best way--the bell rings twelve
the door opens, aud in rush the children from
school;-John has torn his pantaloons--Mary must
have some money, thin To get a thimbIe as she has
just lost hers William has cut his finger with
piece Of glass, and is calling loudly for his mother
Poor Mrs Benson endeavois 10 look cheerful
and look delighted in the hubbub: and now the
dinner, by her efforts alone, is upon the labe-her
husband comes in, and perhaps wonders why the
pie is not little better warmed and with this
comment and smile on the baby he is of ill il is
time for Tea. | forbear 10 finish the nay, Mr. Edi-
tor, and shall only say. the Afternoon is made up Of
little trials, too small 10 MENTION but large enough
to try the faith aud patience Of all the pairarchs
Now sir. this wife has surely "borne the burden
and heat Of the day." her limbs are wearied-her
whole energy Of body and mind exhausted, aud she
IS exhorted 10 "welcome her husband with smile
Sac does Il, for in woman love is stronger than
death. | would ask, should not Mr. Benson give
his wife smilei What has he done 10 tighten her
cares through the dayf How is IL In nine cases
out often, after sitting idle an hour she wishes
Mrs b. would put oil those noisy children to bed
The should be glad TO have her tell David TO go to
the post Office for letters and papers, and at length,
when hall way between sleeping and waking he
looks at his pale and exhausted help meet, he ex.
claims, WELL wife, you begin to look a little IA
tigued."
cannot ask you, Mr. Editor, is this not true
picture, for you are a stranger to the cares and
Joys ofmarried life, but pray you. be more Just,
and now and then exhorl husbands TO do their pari
towards making home agreeable TO their wives,
when the latter have borne a world Of cares and
vexaion through the day.
CLEoDORA