The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-07-15
Froa, the Public Ledger.
"THE VALUE OF A GOOD WIFE,

I BY REV. THOMAS BRAIREnp, D, d.
! I" TIE heart Of her husband doth soteiy t,1tsl
IN her. So thai he shall haue no need Of spoil.t D
Prov. XXI, II.
The richest blessings are not always the
most obvious. II is the hidden moisture
which ref-eshes the flower. tits the hidden
spring which supplies the WE'LL Itis the nu.
trmeni, buried ir the earth, which feeds the
ibres of the vine and tree, and thus devel.
opes the nourishing grape and the shady oak
The noisy cataract is not so benefcent as
the gentle rill that glides almost without q
mnrmur, and is best known by the lively
green of ils border, and the flowers which
deck its meancering course. In the light
nihg's fash there is sublmiiy, but in useful
ness il yields 10 the gentle taper, that lights
up cottage evening. Mankind are moved
by exhibitions of power. They are affected
by social changes, which leave their mark
IN the world. Hence they pause TO moralize
over The death OF statesmen and heroes--over
scholars and millionares--bul few have ever
devoted time and thought and eulogy 10 mark
their estimate of The value Of good wife-a
good mother-a good woman.
In this respect, as in most others, tho Bible
is in advance OF human wisdom, and above
human aptitude aud tendency. 1t selects
for lis most elaborate, carefully worded
and emphatic eulogy, The domestic vir-
tues of faithful wife and mother. As the
light of home is almost the only radiaaos
which cheers the darkness of mans earth ly
loi, King Solomon turns aside TO pronounce
benediciion upon her who presides as a
guardian angel at that altar.
There was sufficient reason for this. What
are The outside revelngs Of pleasure north 10
him who is compelled 10 return 10 filthy
and disordered home? What is fame worth
10 him who meets discord and reproach at his
own door and in his own chamberl What
can wealth do for him whose household is
devoid of taste, order and comfort? What
can the admiration of crowd avail 10 him
whose own fresde is hearlless and desolate ?
# is no, wonderful, then, that the wisesl Of
men, King Solomon, estimating things at
their real value, should ask, "Wko can find
| virtuous woman2 for her price is far above
| rubies.n
Elsewhere, j, is said, ga ptuden, wife is
ftom the Lord" and the eff is worthy Of The
giuer.
The text, speaking Of such wife, Gays
"The heart of her husband doth safely trust
in her." There is pecuiarity in this Ian
guage. Ordinarily it is the office OF divine
truth to weaken our confidence in earthly
blessings. Thus il is said: "He that lrusleh
in his own heart is fooln "Trust not in
man, whose breath is in his nosirils." "Put
no, your trust in princes" "Tiust not 10 un-
certain riches" Human friendships are
treacherous. Wealth is 10 ocold to fill warm
heart. Fame hangs on IA breath Of air, and
comes arc goes, rises and fails, by the ca
prices Of crowd. God ordinarily represents
all earthly things as vanity.
But in the lext he seems 10 make an ex-
ceplion in favor.of vinuous woman-of a
true and faithful wife. He says: "The heart
OF her husband DOH safely trust IN her."
And for what may.-the husband trust in
such wife !?
j. He mag trust in her unselish and perma-
aent affection. ] say it with reverence, God
covels the lore OF his creatures; and man,
made in Gods image, Graves the love of 9TH
ers, as essential TO his own happiness. The
man that asks no love is a monster. The
man who expects none is child of despair.
There may be hearts so frozen by selfshness,
or ossified by pride and egotism, or paraly-
zed by disappointment, as to be Indifferent TO
affection.
But lheseare icebergs, drifting in darkness,
on Polar seas; cold, barren, desolate. In
them no tree or shrub plants root no flow
er sheds lis fragrance there. No melody of
living Joy is chantsd there. God found that
il was not good for man 10 be alone, chiefly
because he needed the conscious affection
OF female heart, 10 soften The asperilies of
his own, and thus give completeness 10 his
being.
In the deep, full affection Of wife's heart,
the husband finds that appreciation and in
tsres; which every soul coveis. This slimu-
lates hls eierprises. This makes him brave
in peril. This cheers his hard labor. This
comforts him under. irritation, slander, re-.
proach, in ibe outside world.
To meet this craving of man woman is
adapted. s
She is not ambitious Of wealth or fame -
She shrnks from greet changes and grea.
perils. She is not fitted for The struggles Of
the forum, the conflict Of arms or the labors
of The field. Her home is her earthly Heav-
en-; and she holds loving heart 10 cheer
him, 10 whom God has given Iof.ier ambi-
tion, a deeper craving Of ssrih's wealth, a
stronger arm and higher courage.
Subjected, BY the ordinance ofGod and the
laws ofihe land, 10 abide sterner will than
her own she is furnished with wealth ol
affection which makes her burden Of subor.
dinalion light, and mells and moulds TO Ten
derness the controller Of her destiny.
am loved al home," says the husband
or the son; snd this though i9erves his prin.
ciPle in the hour of tcmptaueb, and gives
soIace 10 hardshIps on the land Or on the lone
sea- "a 81 z
The Treasure Of wife's affection, like The
i grace OF God, is given, not bought Gold is