Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-02-12

Tor the want of it multltudes have embarked up
on the sea to be shpwrecked But tell me Mi
ra how do yOu intend to start?'
Why aunt said Mira, after moments
thought, Il have not given much attention to
the matter. do not regard it as subject re-
quirng much reflection. Every woman knows
how to act when she is married. If she do
not, she ought not to get married. That's my
opinion
All, Mira, my dear, replied her aunt, thought
fully, 'it is that thing of getting married that
occupies the thoughts of young people, to the
exclusion Of the duties and responsibilities con-
nected with it. In that one consideration al
most every other is lost, and those who are look
ing forward to matrimony imagine that happi-
ness comes naturally to married people. But
that is great mistake, and often very fatal
one 1t is the mistake that causes most Of the
differences and disputes, and cf course most Of
the wretchedness of those who ought to be the
happest folks in the world. You will have
more to do, Mira, than to get married in order
to be happy
why, what do you mean, aunt exclaimed
Mira, after listening with surprise and impa-
tienCe to her remarks. | do not and cannot
understand you. cannot tell whether you
mean to underrate matrimony, or whether | am
to believe that you, who have been twice marrl-
ed, have less correct notions of the married
state than | have who have not been married at
all, and only hope to be so soon. Why, | can
tell you the reason in moment why some peo-
pie arc unhappy when they are married. 1t is
because they are not congenIal to one another.
There are too many bad matches, aunt, and that
is the reason why so much wretcIedness exists
among the married If the matches were good,
and the paltics congenial, they would always
be happy Now is not that as true as the sun
lightr
You may think so Mira, said her aunt,
but though you are on the eve of marriage, you
know very little about it, and you have much to
learn in relation to its obligations. But, Mira,
want you to tell me all about your right
start, and keeping right, and when hear what
you have to say about these matters, may tell
you what my experience has taught me, and it
may be useful to you in the life of untried ex-
pertinent before you.
'pIl tell you that, ma'am, in a moment said
Mira, in her usual confident style of expression.
| know it, aunt Just as well as if | had
studied it at school, although it has never occu.
pied my thoughts minute. know it by
kind of intuition. In the first place | mean to
love my husband, and then know that he will
love Inc, and if that's done alPs done, and we'll
90 right forward in straight line as happy as
the day And if ] am not satisfied and happy
then, why shall despair of being so in this
world. In the second place, shall do every
thing in my power to please my husband, and
am certain that shall do it and am sure if
please him that he will try to please me. And
if please him and he pleases me, why it will be
enough. So that points settled. And in the
third place, I'll make my husband respect me-,
by showing him that | have proper and becom-
ing respect for myself I'll preserve my indie
pendence and dignity of character before him at
all times; and If he sees that am worthy of
his affection, l am confident | shall have it
And it is this third part, aunt, that | regard as
the most important of ALL Gentlemen love and
admire independence of spirit and dignfed
carriage. know it, for have heard them say
so. They are qualities which any one might
know would attract and please man of intelli-
gencc. They will please Francis, that know
very well. And seeing my proud, dignifed and
unbendng course, he'll look upon me as
tleasure and in his attentions secured by these
means | shall be most happy. And how can he
help being happy when he sees me so! He
can't help it, aunt! No honorable high minded
man could help being pleased with wife under
such circumstances Now my dear aunt, I've
told you my sentiments upon this great and
mysterious subject of matrimonial happiness,
and ask you to confess if have not hit just as
we'll as if had been twice married.
Mrs Halstead listened with attention to the
detail Of Mira's opinions upon the interesting
theme of matrimony; and she was not surprised
to learn that she entertained many of the errors
which are INDUCED by young ladies generally
upon the subject. Laying her arm afectionate-
ly upon Mira's neck, she said:
6 My dear girl, am glad that have brought
you out in the declaration Of your views; it will
afford me the opportunity of confirming you in
i, those in which think you to be right, and of
correcting you in others in which know you
to be wrong
20, aunt exclaimed Mira, as she blushed
until her cheeks were like scarlet. You've
been jesting with me, and have been so free
, in expressing myself. But you cannot gainsay
my sentiments, But, aunt, suppose l may
now expect long lecture. Go on then Pm
very teachabe you know, and do really want
to be instructed. If am wrong and you con-
vince me of it, I'll give up
Well, my DEAR, replied her aunt, as you
have challenged me to the task sit still and lis
ten, and will tell you what my experience in
two marriages has taught me- When think
your opinion, as you have expressed it, is right,
will encourage you to retain and practise it,
and will endeavor to show you wherein your
error consists. You are right in what you call
vnur first noint That the honninace oc ,,,,rr;ad