The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-05-20
From the Newark Daily ADVERTISE.
The Wife at Home.

From the Newark Daily Advertiser
The Wife at Home.
1t has been one ofmy most serious npIre-
tensions, that In the multitude Of our socie-
ties and public combinations, mon and wo-
men might chance TO forget that they have
anything TO do individually. We have soci-
cites to take care of our health. aud societies
to take care of our kitchens. Aims givinR,so
far as done at all. is done chiefly 10y whole
sale, Perhaps we may see the day when wo
shall dine together, like the Spnrtans, and
when all family cookery and education shall
be done upon the large scale.
These thoughts were brought to my mind
with greater force than common, few days
since, upon my rnaking n visit 10 the house
of Mrs. Nelson, the wife Of n reputable farm
er, few miles from our village. III were
TO attemptn portrait of this excellent lady, J
should fill volume; can only give a sketcll
outline. Mrs. Nelson is, in the American as
well as the English sense, a fine woman.-
Temperance, early rising, industry, and above
all serene cheerfuness of soul, have leit on
her cheek at forty, those roses which fashion
and excitement often blast before fifteen. But
what / took my pen to notice, was that truly
feminine and christian trait Of my good friend
she is keeper al home. Though I have
been church-going man many years, do
not remember 10 have heard any one Of our
clergy enlarge upon this scripture phrase;and
yet the older grow the more meaning there
seems to be in it. The best women in the
world are those who stay at home, such is tie
opinion of the best judges, to witt their hus-
bands. The worst women are those that
have no home, or who love all other places
better; such is the verdict of those who meet
them abroad. A wife in the house is rs in
dispensablc as steersman at the wheel
Who can count up the cases where poor fell
lows have been ruined by their wives!
This is a hard saying, but iii were soft
ened, it would he less true. Surely it is no
disrespect to the better sex TO point at these
rare exceptions, which like the dim tarnish
on the face of the moon, makes the other
tracts look all the brighter. After you shall
have exaggerated 10 the utmost the number
and the faults ofthe gadding gossipping, aud
idle women, we still have million of Amer
lean house wives, tightening million homes
and hearts Mrs. Nelson is one of ihcm.-
Her husband is not the meekest mun in the
country, nor by nature the most hospitable,
but she makes up for all, like the credit side
ofan account. In the exercise ofthe passive
virtues, she finds her greatest happiness She
holds it to he one Of the very first duties Of
life TO render her home delightful first to her
husband, next to her children, and then 20 all
who may enter her hospitable doors. Early
in life, she observed that several other hus-
bands intimate acquaintanccs were becom-
ing regular in their habits: she and Nelson
talked il over at length He being n rough
man, declared it to be his intention 10 break
off all intimacy with Lang and Shepherd, on
the spot. go no! husband" said she, "lhat
would be cruel remember the proverb, a
soft word breaketh the bone Let me alone
TO bring them TO their bearings: at any rate,
give me month for all experiment. ''Ton J!
Mary" he exclaimed in astonishment, "you
amaze me; surely you will not follow them TO
the barroom, as Jemima Murphy does her
goodman" "No," said his wife laughing,
shut we women have some secrets le!t still.
Wait but month";"
The month rolled round. Nelson had had
hard work to keep from falling upon the two
men violently, but he waited TO see the issue
and even kept out oftheir way that the mean
tation might not be interrupted. At the close
Of less than the three weeks Lang and Shep-
herd were two ofihe most quiet, orderly, and
domestic men in the neighborhood. "Why
Mary" said Nelson, "what in the world have
you done to thern?' 81? husband ] have not
exchanged words with them for weeks."-
"Then you have had some witchcrnft at
work" "Not l." she replied; 'the story is
soon related; had observed for long time
that their homes were growing dismal, aud
often told Mrs. Lang what ieard concerning
her husband. Indeed had heard you tell
Of his repeating over his glass that ahomina-
BILE saying, the devils at home After my
conversation with you, SET TO work--not on
the husbands but on their WiyeE. Simple
creatures! they scarcely knew what meant
They wished indeed that the men would
spend more time at home, and even wcpt a
bout their late hours and rum drinking. But
they were not prepared for my telling them
that they must redombIe the attractions of
their own firesdc and table---make the cheer
better--the fire brighter 1.-The children CLEAN
er--the welcome heartier: call in pleasant
neghhor TO tea---have a little singing in the
evening, and even invite TO n comfortable sup
per two or three Of the husbands tavern
cronies. The thing took admirably. The
wives triumphed, andJ hope you are salts
fed" II.
Though il is likely Nelson did not just then
suspect it, this was The very course which
had proved successful in saving himself from
ruinous habits And most earnestly is il 10