Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-03-21
Be Kind to Your Wife.

irst blush of maiden beauty she turned aside
from the haunts of pleasure and the caress of
iond parents and brothers and sisters to fol-
low your fortunes through the world Think
with what blended hope and agony you fol-
lowed her from place to place, watching her
every look, and ponderng the meaning of
her most careless tones, until. won by your
Importantly, she placed her hand all trust
fully in yours and said, am all your own"
Think OF the cares, and anxieties, and physi-
cal suffering she has incurred for you, and
do not desert her now, when her cheek is
faded, her step has lost its elasticity, and she
sits an accomplishing watcher over your best
interests, self incarcerated prisoner in her
own home.
Merrily the music sounds, young feet trip
lightly in the mazy dance, and joyous laughter
along the walls-but she is not there; the
curtain rises and the far-famed artistic comes
forth to charm the listening crowd with her
melodious song-but she is not there The
orator arises before his wrapt audience, his
rich deep tones Of eoquence floating away
along the crowed passages and curling up
ward as a voiced incense to the vaulted roof,
but she is not there Art opens her new
stores and displays her wonderful creations
on the glowing canvass, and in the speaking
bust your wife is lover of the chaste and
bet utiful, but she is not there. Literature
presents new leaves, fresh from the fascina-
ting pens Of genius-the wife and mother
has but little time to read.
No; there she fingers at home, God-com-
missioned watcher over helpless children
singing the babe to sleep, bending to catch
the lisping voice of those dear ones who have
thousand imaginary wants, encouraging the
quiet and soothing the fretful. She is weary,
but does not complain, her temples throb,
but she does not heed their throbbing as
ever and anon she turns wishful glance
towards the door, for she expects her hus-
band
She expects you; and her whole world Of
happiness will be there when you arrive.
Will you enter that room with cold ildif-
ference? Will you utter hasty word in her
presence? Will You sit down with that frown
on your countenance, or complain Of the bur-
dens you arc called to bear? viii you
thoughtlessly remind her of her faded beauty,
or manifest surprise at her ignorance of many
things now passing in the great world from
which she has been excluded by her peculiar
duties? Will you suffer the recollection of
any more youthful, or more beautiful to haunt
you in homes hallowed precincts, or cross the
white leaf of conjugal felicity with one un-
hallowed thought? Oh! remember your early
love, your early promise; think how faith
fully she has kept hers; love her as you ought,
and she is still beautiful in her pure, motherly
affections, her selfsacrifcing devotion to you.
Realize that she is all your own; that
throughout the wide world you are sure of
but one heart whose every cord is linked in
visibly to counterpart in yours; realize that
upon her bosom alone you may weep out
your sorrows in the day of trial, without the
fear of being mocked
Husband, love your wifel Gather her to
your heart of hearts, as if in her were all
your hopes of happiness combined; bless her
daily for her patience and truth; stand up
like man between her and the rude, cold
world, and teach your children to honor her,
that God may honor You. In all the rela-
tions Of life there comes parting hour, and
we beseech you so to live that, if it should be
your lot to kiss her clay cold lips and lay her
away in the grave forever, you may lay your
hand honestly upon your widowed heart and
say--I have never wronged you'll -Olirt
Branch.