The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-01-21
From Moore's Rural New Yorker.
THE UNYIELDING WIFE:
Or, the Effects of Ill.temper.
BY A FARMERS WIFE.

BY A FARMERS WIFE.
Before proceeding to the subject matter of
this paper, allow me my young friends, to ex-
hort you to pause long. and strive earnestly |
at self-culture and self-control, before taking
step which involves your all of earthly hap
piness, as well as that of the individual whom
before Heaven, you promise to honor, love,
and cherish during your soiourn in state
where mutual forbearance, mutual conces-
sions, are constantly demanded. MY female
friends, though the chosen companion of your
life may not be all you had in the ardor of
your affection painted him, he is still the man
whom you are bound 10 "love, honor, and
obey" and to your keeping, in great degree,
is committed his reputation, his usefulness in
life, his social tastes, and freside enioyments
Mutual Improvement is undoubtedly one of
the ends of the institution of marriage; but
any attempt at correction or reproof should
be min gled with kindness of manner-if the
contrary course is adopted, the desired effect
is worse than lost, and frequently the seeds of
good already sown in the heart. are by harsh
ness and severity stifled in the germ, and the
nobler feelings which had begun to expand
are blasted by the heat of an ungoverned
temper.
Years ago, when in the freshness and buoy
ancy Of girlhood, | was about to become the
brede OF him who has ever striven to make
m, happy, received letter from my moth
er eldest sister, earnestly urging me to spend
few days with her, as she wished particulag-
Iy to see me. Accordingly went, and was
cordially received by Aunt Clara and The
family of her son, with whom she resided
One day during my visit, Aunt Clara told me
she had heard OF my intended marriage, and
feeling deep interest in my welfare, she had
determined to give me history of her own
married life, believing it might convey a USE
full lesson. Whether she thought she discov-
cred the same traits in my chara cter that
caused the shipwreck OF her happiness,
cannot say, but let that pass. She said on
account of the sad memories, and unhappy
feelings it would necessarily awaken, she had
reduced the narrative to writing, which
might persue at leasure.
At an early day awaited myself of her
kindness-her manuscript is here copied.
Being the eldest of six children, my parents
Rad always been accustomed to rely on me for
much assistance, which, had been the only
child, they would scarcely have considered
me able to render. My mothers time was
almost wholly occupied with household affairs,
SO that at sixteen years of age, the care of two
] little sisters and three brothers deyolved almost
entirely on me. Nature had endowed me
with an indomitabie will, and a passionate
love and power, which required a stronger
curb than the occasional reproofs which my
ebullitions Of temper called forth. Among
my brothers and sisters, my wcrd was law
and when issued command, (and that was
the form in which my wishes were expressed
/ exacted the strictest obedience | DO moi
think the children could have loved me very
much, for my passionate infections must have
engendered that fear which castcth out love-
At length change came over me; pas
sion took possession of my heart. which for a
time overpowercd all baser passions-need
say that passion was love! Ny whole heart
; was devoted to an object worthy of better
disciplined one that l could bring him. AS il
to prove the assertion true, that every person
loves his opposite, the object of my attach
ment was mild, with disposition full of kind
ness and charity, always choosing to suffer
wrong, rather than contend with an antago.
mist.
Intending to relieve my parents from pro.
viding some of the necessary articles fol
house keeping, engaged to take charge of a
} district school, which was managed by o
board of trustees, who were authorized to EN-.
! ploy and pay a teacher, the teacher being
more or less controlled by them; their oc-
casional interference was, to temperament
like mine, exceedingly irritating.
! One day returned from school i'm very
angry mood, asserting that | would neither
submit to the dictates of the trustees or any
! one else, when my eldest sister said, with
III 10 hat, .lr bor
are married! You will then have to "love
; honor, and obey" My temper was not in
the least, soitened by the question, and re.
piled, very emphatically, that when married
it would be my husbands duty to make me
: happy, and if he did not conform to my wishes
should endeavor to make him. Foolish
Maynard girl, that was, to resolve in my own
mind that would abide by so absurd deter.
mination, how little did reflect how
much influence, pride and obstinacy would
= exert in causing me to adhere to this expires.
sion of prevented will.
Joseph and were at length married II
, seemed to me had never been SO happy be
? fore; weeks passed as days. Surrounded by
an atmosphere of love and kindness, my fault,
were not called out, and Joseph in his mista
ken fondness thought me all that his warn
heart and noble nature could desire.
Soon after marriage we commenced house
> keeping in neat, pretty house, just suitet
: 10 our wants; Twas enabled nearly to furnish
6 it with the avails of my years teaching ans
. the kind assistance of mother and sisters
Neatness and order were largely developed il
n my habits, and for Some time nothing occure,
It to mar the happiness of our daily life. On
c evening had to wait longer than usual fo
: Joseph to come to his tea, and suffered Ions
s suppressed feeling of Impotence to betray