Georgetown weekly news., 1855-02-22
She Always made Home Happy.

Such was the brief but impressive SEN
tcnce, which friend wished us to add to
an obituary notice of one "who had gone be-
| fore"
What better tribute could be offered to
the loved and lost? Eloquence with her
loftiest eulogy-pOetry with her most
thrilling dirge, could afford nothing so
sweet, so suggestive Of the virtues of the
dead as those simple words-"SHE ALWAYS
MADE HOME HAPPY!'
Hear this, mothers, wives and daughters,
and think of your own duty. How many
could have the same said Of them in truthful
ness and sincerity? Ask that woman. whose
splendid residence attracts the gaze of eve
ry passer-by. Thousands have been lavish
ed on those imposing walls, long colonades
and high-arched windows; and now and then
you obtain a glimpse Of costly hangings,
rich carpets and tall mirrors which dazzle
you with magnificence. Often you pause a
moment and look wistfully through the hall
closed blinds and murmur to yourself as you
pass on Il should think the possessor Of
all this might enjoy life"
But you are sadly mistaken. The dove
Of peace never folds her white wings by that
freside; the gentle spirit of content never
sheds her holy influence there. The master
of the mansion, though yet in his prime, pre-
maturely seems old; there is an expression
of habitual suffering around his firmly com
pressed lips, and his broad brow bears many
trace of care. All there is a vulture at
his heart, which like the hero Of the 0lden
story, he would fain conceal. Ten years
ago he married beautiful girl, with thOus-
and pleasant visions of domestic quietude
and bliss But his dreams have faded: the
rosy hue of romance is lost in the cold, gray
dawn Of bitter reality.
His wife presides over his household with
surprising gracefulness; she is the idol of So
ciety and leader Of fashion. She goes and
comes through those spacious halls, dressed
in garments that might bend a queen; she
gives brilliant dinners, where she shines the
! brightest star; and parties, which every
| body pronounce CHARMING. But she is nev-
er the kind devoted companion-the loving,
trusting help-mate, sharing every Joy and
counseling in trials and perplexities with
winning delicacy and tenderness. In short
she never makes home happy. But it is not
alone to the frivolous that our subject speaks
the language Of reprOof and instruction;
there are others, to whom it may be applied
with equal force Ask the would be re-
formers Of the nineteenth century, whose
loftiest aim is to step beyond her appropri-
ate sphere, how she performs her duty in
this respect. She is often seen in the de-
batting hall and lecture room, where strife
and confusion prevail. Her voice is heard
! ringing out in defence of the rights of her
sex; she allows her name to be banded
about, linked with the coarsest epithets; she
takes long and tedious Journeys in behalf
of the cause she has espoused. You may
hear Der talk enthusiastically Of all that is
pure and elevating in woman's mission and
sublime in her destiny. Indeed, she appears
to be ready to suffer any hardship or pri-
vation, if she can only aid in the glorious
work of redeeming oppressed females from
their terrible thraldom.
But you do not find her the bright "pre-
siding genius of home" Her smile and
cheerful welcome do not greet her husband,
when he returns from his daily toll; her
hands do not draw his arm chair to that
favorite nook; her society does not charm
away his WEAKNESS and make HIM forget
his cares. When he is ill, she is seldom
near to smooth his pillow, or battle his fever
ed check, or whisper of hope and consola-
ton.
Can it be, that she, with all her pretend
ed regard for the best interests of human
ty, ever realizes her own responsibility
Alas, we fear not.
Ask the peevish, complaining wife, if she
has ever thought seriously of the matter
What a neat, cosy little cottage hers is !
How many comforts she has. Her two no
ble looking boys and their fair sister are as
beautiful trio of children as ever graced
one household; her husband is kind and in
dulgent, but her fretful disposition will not
allow her a moments tranquility She is
IN perpetual anxiety; sometimes it is one
thInO and acroi,, H.,