Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-06-13
nlisrtllanruug.
THE TWO HOMES.


Ii IS womans province TO make
homes. Men buy lands and houses,
they buy furniture and occupy rooms,
but not all the men in the world
could make home. Why is not
every woman educated aud fitted for
her office While all are aspiring
to the honor how few have any idea
Of the real elements which form a
pleasant and happy home--of the
qualifications which are necessary in
order TO preside over one
All expect TO get married, and to
have a house to place in IT sofas,
chairs, and tables to prepare break
fast, dinner, and supper; to have
fires and lights; TO entertain compa-
ny, and raln children and many
do this without imagining that they
have failed in one thing--who have
vet never made a home.
sometimes think it is my special
province to inspect them, so many
pass in review before me.
"A wise son maketh a glad faith
er, but foolish son is the heavlness
OF his mother" Who is responsible
for this household wreck Z We can
not tell, as we did not look in upon
it till the ruin was complete; but 1t
is one Of the saddest family pictures
we were ever called upon to paint.
The poor, shlvering, crouching,
wailng creature, that we see ia this
decaylng, poverty stricken dwelling, /
was once the mistress Of an establish /
meul--the wife Of man of wealth, |
and the leader OF fashion. Her
youth was one Of prosperity, as the
world defines prosperity. She was
endow cd with beauty, witha refined
and cultivated taste, and possessed
many accomplishments. He who
sought her hand in marriage desired
one who could adorn his elegant
dwelling, who would preside with
grace al his entertainments, who
would be content that Jewels and fine
dresses should supply the place of
love aud personal attention.
When he asked her TO be his wife,
she refused with naughty dlsdaiu-
"she had no idea of marrying one
old enough to be her grandfather"
But kind friends answered, " He is
rich, Ellen. lie will give you an
establishment; you will have car
Iiuge, and every luxury heart can
desire. How foolish you wonld be
to reject such an opportunity !"
An opportunity for display, for
gratifing every selfish desire, for ex-
citing The envy of the world. "-lf
these things were necessary for her
happiness, it was fine opportunity,
indeed. So she accepted it and "a
little time after saw her the envied
of a giddy throng, the courted and
admired by all who wished to appear
at her evening entertainments, and
be numbered among her satelItes.-
How brilliant were her parties, how
recherche her dinners, how elegant
her saloons And yet what vacuiiy
m every depariment-what an alb
sence of all that constitutes an En-
glish or American idea of HOME
For twenty years her house was
gay and bright and beautiful, chill
dren were reared in luxury, without
n thought that adversely would ever
cast its blight upon their fortunes or
their hearts; like the house in the
parable, when the winds blew, and
the floods came, the whole was swept
away and most fearful was the fall.
First came the failure in business,
which the man, who had all his life
reveled in riches, could not survive,
and son, who should have thought
I" how can retrieve the losses, and
sustain widowed mother and orphan
sisters Z" plunged into dissipation
wasted his substance In rlotous lv.
iog, and came to an ignominou,
death:
There was no foundation for NOR.
al or physical health. They coult
only float on the uncertain breeze o.
prosperity, and one after another wa
cul off, all eight had paid the penal
iy of the false principles and educa
ton of their parents, and gone dow
TO an unlimely grave.
Two are LETT, son and daughter
and how are they TO be supported
they who have never thought of la
Dor but scorn il, and never lcarne,
enough Of any art to make il Tn
means Of gaining bread Oh, desc
late ard poverty stricken woman
that she were taught to look forwar
10 day when riches may have fled
and husbands and fathers tailed il
providing her protection and supper
10 the day when, ignorant, lrail
aud helpless, she must come forth in
to the world, and shield herself lron
insult, and guard herself from wan
For Mrs. G--lhere was onl
one way. She had not education
and she had not gifts, so the board
ing-house became ker refuge, an
lis many appointments her care
But, though she had learned to al
range parlor, she had not III
slightest knowledge Of kitchen
Her indulgenl husband did not wis
her TO be defled with the smoke an
efusion of ovens and boilers. Whu
if there was waste and extravaganza,
he was able TO meet il. lie WI
willing TO pay cooks aud waters an
chamber maids, but his wife an
daughters he expected to be Indie
and nothing that could offend h