Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-07-08

n GFWe are requested by subscriber tc
publish the following letter, which was
t, written several years ago by PATRIcK
HENRY to his daughter soon after her mar
riage:-- ,4 .5.sg w
My DEAR DAUGHTER:---Ypu have Just
entered into that state which is replete with
y happiness or misery. Fhe issue depends
4 upon that prudent: .anliabl conduct, which
wisdom and xiftuei So strong rscshan5end,
s1 on the one fand, or on that imprudence
} which want of reflection or passion may
4 prompt on the other. The first maxim
which you should impress deeply upon your
mind, is, never to attempt to control your
husband by opposition, by displeasure, or
any other mark of anger. A man of sense,
of prudence, of warm feelings, cannot, and
will not, bear an opposition Of any kind,
which is attended with with an angry look
or expression. The current of his affec-
tions is suddenly stopped; his attachment is
weakened; he begins to feel modification
the most pungent; he is belittled even in
his own eyes, and be assure, the wife who
once excites those sentiments in the breast
of husband, will never regain the high
ground which she might and ought to have
retained. When he marries her, If he be
a good man, he expects from her smiles,
not frowns; he expects to find in her one
who is not to control him-not to take from
him the freedom Of acting as his own iudg-
ment shall direct, but one who will place
such confidence in him, as to believe that
his prudence is his best guide. Little
things, what in reality are mere trifes in
themselves, often produce hard feelings and
even quarrels Never permit them to be a
subject of dispute; yield them with pleasure,
with smile Of affection. Be assured that
one difference outweighs them all thous-
and or ten thousand times A difference
with your husband ought to be considered
Us the greatest calamity-as one that is to
be most studiously guarded against; it is a
demon which must never be permitted to
enter habitation when all should be peace,
: unimpaired confidence, and heartfelt affec-
} ton. Besides, what can q woman gain by
} her opposition or difference? Nothing
, But she loses everything; she loses her hus
: bands respect for her virtue, she loses his
: love, and with that, all prospect Of future
, happiness. She creates her own misery,
, and then utters idle and silly complaints,
, but utters them in vain. The love Of a
: husband can be retained only by the high
opinion which he entertains Of his wife's
goodness of heart, of her amiable, disposi
ton, of the sweetness Of her temper, Of hel
; prudence, of her devotion to him. Lei
: nothing upon any occasion ever lessen thai
Q opinion. On the contrary, it should aug
0 ment every day: he should have mucf
: moro reason to admire her for those excel
d lent qualities which will cast lustre ovel
Q fractions are no more.
Has your husband stayed out longer thai
+ you expected? When he returns, receiv,
!, him as the partner Of your heart, Has HI
y disappointed you in something you expect
d ed, whether Of ornament or OF furniture, O
0 of any conveniency? Never evince dis
IS content; receive his apology with cheerful
s ness. Does he, when you are housekeep
r er, invite company without informing yo,
of it, or bring home with him friend
It Whatever may be your repast, howeve
}, scanty it may be, however impossible
d may be to add to it, receive them with
h pleasing countenance, adorn your tabl
d with cheerfulness, give to your husban
1t and to your company hearty welcome;
N will more than compensate for every othe
E defciency;it it will evince love for your hus
band, good sense in yourself. and that pc
s. liteness of manners, which acts as the mos
v powerful charm! 1t will give to the plain
a. est fare a zest superior to all that luxur
I'd can boast. Never be discontinued on an
y occasion of this nature. Cultivate you
I, mind by the perusal af those books whic
if instruct while they amuse. Do not devot
your time to novels; History, geograph,
h poetry, moral essays, biography, travel
sermons, and other well written religion
to productions, will not fail to enlarge you
Or understanding, to render you more agre
0 able companion, and to exalt your virtu
w A woman devoid ofrational ideas Of reli,
,c ion, has no security for her virtue; it
i'd sacrificed to her passions, whose voice, n
10 that Of God, is her cnly governing prime
is pie. Mutual politeness between the mo
,e intimate friends, is essential to that harm
u ny which should never be once broken {
e. interrupted. How important thenisi it b
Ia tween man and wife! The moro warm IL
= attachment, the less will either party bet
z to be Sighted, or treated with the smalle
ID degree OF rudeness or inattention | wi
in only add, that matrimonial happiness do'
\ not depend upon wealth; no, it is not to /
"a found in wealth; but in minds properl
o. tempered and united to our respective sit'
. ations y ~
(. Some modern Socrates says that court
~ shin is the wine of love. md ,inntrio,onv n