Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-01-24

anu hen IN your surprise, terror and suffering YOU
shrlek out, accuse man of cruel treachery and al.
most blasPheme God; when if you had entered
upon life, understandingly, you would have been
prepared for the evil, and perhaps have reioiced
that 1t was lighter than you had anticipated Re.
member girls when you think of marriage tina,
In becoming wives, you surrender your identity,
give up your very name, and become one flesh.
with your husband. That you make yourselves
subject, for God has said, He shall rule over
thee" That you give yourself to suffering, ex.
ceeding all other agony that human nature can en-
oure That you give yourself the solicitudes and
cares, that never slumber night day. These
are the portion Of the happiest woman who fills
her appointed station of wife and mother. But all
these may be alleviated, rendered endurable, even
sweet, by the kind attentions and sympathes of a
beloved husband. By the consciousness of rect-
tude, and proud reliance on the honor, and res
Pec1ablity of our lord. We are happy in our
children, because he loves them we are proud of
them, because they are like him; we love them
because they are blendings of his being with our
own. And we are happy, not in ourselves; mar
ried woman cannot be happy in herself; but in our
husband and children.
These things, dear girls, are solemnly true
You have only to open your eyes, to see them as
they are. The freside of your parents, Of all your
married relatives and friends, is eloquent of these
truths, and yet how many young maidens per-
ceve them not; but marry in the confident expec.
tation of unalloyed felicity. They find bitterness
in the first taste of the cup, humiliation succeeds
cares, and agonies follow they are disappointed
| indignant, aggreved they approach their husband
with having deceived them, of having wrested
them from all JOY, and subjected them to confne-
ment and suffering; they rail enviously at the
comparative freedom and exemption of his lot
they vex him with unjust accusations, and unreas
enable repining and finally the pair become
iranged, miserable, hateful, and hating one anoth-
er. And ali this because the girl did not know
what wife's real portion is. l do no, pity the
husbands OF these canker worm wives. because
the Ylay the foundation of the misery, for them
selves, and their wretched wives.
| appeal to you girls-all who have lovers-do
they not pretend to admire you, as beautiful (Which
is perhaps equivocaD TO worship you as a modelof
perfect excellence, (Which no living woman s) to
adore you as the loveiest of your sex, (doubtful)
and to declare that your society, yonr love- is ne
cessary to his happiness, (Which is probably true)
Does he not talk to you of the perfect felicity of
welded love, and declare that if you give your
destiny into his keeping it shall be the study of
his life to make you happy, (tha, is if you can be
content with the overfowng Of the cup, which
you must fill for hm)
With such wooings, men old enough to know
what life is, allure simple children OF from fifteen
to seventeen, to assume station for which they
are all untitled; burden which they have not
strength TO bear; responsibilities, Of the nature Of
which they are in utter ignorance. And yet they
expect the poor silly dupe, ofther fattery, to be-
come at once wise, sober, experienced and sub
mssive wife; dignifed housekeeper and ration
al companion. These she cannot become without
the maturing of time, and the lessons Of expert
ence. He becomes impatient, and finds fault
she is grieved and indignant, and so begins life
ofstrfe and recrimination, TO end in utter misery
Now | am not going to say anything against
Gods ordinance of matrimony, but intend to
show you how TO make it honorable and happy.
have said that in a state of servitude, self-de-
NAL, and heavy endurance--and it is so, inevitably
so. Understanding this, you will not rush to the
hymenial altar to the gate Of heaven, with any
fatterng fop, who may solicit your company. 1t
is hard for a sensible woman 10 be in subjection
fool. Ii is hard to be forced in spite of your
remonstrances. to go with a spendthrift |
down the road 10 ruin, to utter destitution, with
your helpless children to share the fearful fate
1t is hard 10 remain agonizing at home, while your
pleasure seeking husband is spending his time
with dssoute companions but if such become
your lot, you will be required to endure patiently
and cheerfully. To put bond upon your outraged
spirit, to impose silence upon your tortured heart.
To kiss the hand that smites you-aye, the foot
that is placed upon your neck To smile when
your soul is in anguish and speak loving words
while the iron OF oppression is rusting into your
soul. 1t is noble in man to resist tyranny, it is
beautiful in woman to endure it is dastardly in
nan to submit to vile oppression, ii is monstr-
ous wickedness in woman, to rebel. All your
happiness, your comfort, your enjoyment, in life,
rests therefore upon the character of your husband
Here is the point at which have been seeking to
arrive You are now free to choose or to refuse.
This is the only freedom which woman can ever
,all her own. Use it wisely, implore you-or
,our own good. Cast from you the illusions of