Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-12-22

young wives, exposing their faults. perhaps mag.
nifying them, and sxpoUnding 10 them, IN none
Of the kindesi terms, their duty, and the Offices
pertaining 10 'woman's sphere" Now We be-
lieye that wives, as a whole, are really better
than they are generally admitted 10 be. We
doubt if there can be found large number Of
wives who are dsagrseable and neg gent, with
out some palpable GOODNESS or shon-cOming
on the part Of their husbands. So far as We
have had an opportunity FOR observation, they
are Far more devoted and faithful than those who
style themselves their lords, and who, by the
customs Of society, have other and generally
more pleasant and varied duties 10 perform. We
protest against these lectures so often and so OBJ
trusively addressed TO the lslies, and insist up
on it that they must-most Of them-haye been
written by some fusly bachelors who knew no
better, or by some inconsideraie husbands who
deserve TO have been old bachelors to the end Of
their lives. But is there nothing to be said on
the other sidel Are husbands so generally the
perfect, amiable, injured beings they are so Of.
ten represented Men sometimes declare that
their wives extravagancies have picked their
pockets, that their neyer-ceaslng tongues have
robbed them Of their peace, and their general
disagreeableness has driven them TO the tavern
and gaming tables but this is generally the wick
ed excuse for most wicked life on their own
part. The fact is, men often lose their interest
| in their homes by their own neglect 10 make
iher homes interesting and pleasant. Ii should
never be forgotten that the wife has her rights
as sacred after marriage as beforehand hus-
bands devotion TO the wife after marriage will
concede TO her quite as much attention as his
galIantry did while a lover. If il is otherwise,
| he most generally is at fault.
Take few examples. Before marriage a
young man would feel some deicacy about ac-
cepting an invitation TO spend an evening. in
company where his 'lady love" had notbeen in
vited. After marriage is he always as particu'
larl During the days of courship, his gallan'
Try would demand that he should make himself
agreeable to her; after marriage it often happens
that he thinks more Of being agreeable TO him
self. How often it happens that mPrfed'men
after having been away from home the llyelont
day, during which the wife has toied at her du
ties, 90 at evening again TO the same place OF a
musement, and leave her to toll alone, unchee
red and unhappy. How often il happens tha
her kindes. offices pass unobserVed and unre
warded even by smile, and her best efforts ar
condemned by the fauIt.fnding husband. How
often il happens, even when the evening" IS spen
al home that it is employed in silent reading, o
some other wav that does not recognize IN
wife's right to share in the enloymenn even o
the fireside.
Look, We husbands, a moment, and remem
J Der what your wife was when you took her, nc
! from compusion, but from your own choice:
!, choice based, probably, on what you then cor
n sidered her superiority to all others. Sh
d was young-perhaps the idol Of happy hom
: she was gay and blithe as the lark, and the br'
theirs and sisters at her fathers freside chersl
D ed her as an object Of endearment. Yet sh
+ left all TO join her destiny with yours; to max
!, your home happy, and 10 do all that woman
!. owe could prompt, and woman's ingenuity dc
l. wise, to meet your wishes and to Tighten tn
y burdens which might press upon you in yol
:, pilgrimage. She could not entertain feeling
n which promised so much, without forming SON
n idea of reciprocation on your part, and she d
s. expect you would after marriage perform tho
kind Offices Of which you were so lavish IN Il
Mt DAYS of betrothment. She became your vii
n left her own home for YOURS; burst assundt
q, as it were, the bands of love which had bou
n. her to her fathers fireside, and sought no 9th
rs boon than your affections: left, it may be, t
s. ease and decacy Of home of indulgence, a
81 now, what must be her feelings if she gradua
nd awakes to the consciousness that you love
he less than before; that your evenings are spf
u abroad; that you only come home at all TO
On isfy the demands of your hunger, and to in'
is resting place for your head when weary, or
er nurse for your sick chamber when diseased!
e. Why did she leave the bright hearth Of
es 5 youthful daysl Why did you ask her to
"a, up the enjoyments of happy home? Was
aS' simply to darn your stockings, mend y
:. clothes, take care Of your children, and wa
ui' over your sick bedl Was it simply 10 cond
III, 10 your own comfort Or was there some
nd derstanding tina. she was 10 be made happy
on connexion with the man she dared to love!
i. Nor is il a sufficient answer that you reply
~. YOU give her home that you feed and Gle
icb her. Ysu do this for your help; you would
os il for an Indifferent housekeeper. But fo
~ 80 not that wife is more than house.keepel
in She is your wifc, and unless you attend TO
M. wants, and in some way answer the reasoni
inc expectations you raised by your attentions
heS fore marriage, you need not wonder II she
rol detected, and her heart sink into insensiblI
= 90 but if this be so, think well who is the caus
ii. We repeat it, very few women make ii
m. feren. wives, whose feelings have not met
,ho M some outward shock by the indifference
list list thoughtessness Of their husbands. 1t is
ls. candid opinion, that in large majority OF
80 instances of domestic misery the man is The
gressOr.
From the Western Christian Advocate.