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

male member of the Church.
BY REV. THOMAS BRAINERp, d. D.
The heart Of her husband doth satelu trust
her. 80 thai he shall haze no need Of spodn
Prov. XXI, II.
The richest blessings are not always the
most obvious. II is the hidden moisture
which ref-eshes the flower. II is the hidden
spring which supplies The we'll. 1t is the nu-
lrimeni, buried ir the earth, which feeds the
fibres of the vine and tree, and thus devel.
opes the nourishing grape and The shady oak
The noisy cataract is not so beneficenl rs
The gentle rill that gldss almost wi,hou, a
mnsmur, and is beet known by the lively
green of its border, and the flowers which
deck lis meanGering course. In the light
ning's flash there is subimity, but in useful
ness II 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 10 moralize
over the death of statesmen and heroes-over
scholars and miIlionaires--but few have ever
devoted time and thought and eulogy 10 mark
their estimate of The value Of good wife-s
good moiher-a good woman.
In this :especi, as in most others, the Bible
ia in advance Of human wisdom, and above
human aptitude and tendency. 1t selects
for its most elaborate, carefully worded
and emphatic euIosy, the domestic vir-
| tues of faithful wife and mother. As :he
light Of homo is almost the only radiance
\ which cheers the darkness of mans earthly
lot, King Solomon turns aside 10 pronounce
benediction upon her who presides as
guardian angel at that altar.
There was sufficient reason for this. What
are the outside revelings of pleasure morih 10
him who is compelled 10 return to a filthy
and disordered home! What is fame worth
10 him who meets dscord and reproach at his
own door and in his own chambers 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 I!
IT is not wonderful, then, that the wisesl of
men, King Solomon, estimating things al
their real value, should ask, WHO can find
virtuous woman for her price is far above
rubies.'
Elsewhere, ii IS said "a prudent wife is
from the Lord" and the gift is worthy Of the
giuer.
The text, speaking Of such wife, Gays
"The heart of her husband doth safely trust
in her." There is popularity in this Ian
guase. Ordinarily it is the Office of divine
truth 10 weaken our confidence in earthly
blessings. Thus ii is said "He that truslelh
in his own heart is fool" "Trust not in
man, whose breath is in his. nosirils." "Pul
not your trust in princes" "Tlust not in un-
certain riches" Human friendships are
treacherous. Wealth is 10 ocod TO fill warm
heart. Fame hangs on 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 text he seems 10 make an ex-
ception in favor of virnous woman-of a
true and faithful wife. He says: "The heart
of her husband doth safely trust IN her,"
And for what may the husband rus, in
such wife?
l. He may trust in her unseJfsh and perma-
nent affection. I say it with reverence, God
cove's the love 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 egoism, or paraly-
zed by disappointment, as TO be indifferent TO
affection.
Bu, these are icebergs, drifting in darkness,
on Polar seas; cold, barren, desolaie. In
them no tree or shrub plants root no flow
er sheds its fragrance there. No melody of
living Joy is chantsd there. God found that
il was not good for man TO be alone, chiefly
because he needed the conscious affection
of female heart, TO soften the asperiles 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
leres; which every soul covels This slimu-
lales his elerprses. This makes him brave
in peril. This cheers his hard labor. This
comforts him under irritation, SANDER, re-
proach, in the outside world.
To meet this craving OF man woman is
adapted.
She is not ambitious of wealth or fame
She shrnks from great changes and great
pers She is not fitted for The struggles of
the forum, the conflict of arms or the labors
Of lhe field. Her home is her earthly Heav-
en-; and she holds loving heart 10 cheer
him, 10 whom God has given loltier ambi-
lion, deeper craving Of earh's wealth, a
stronger arm and higher courage.
Subjected, by the ordinance OF God and the
laws of the land, 10 abide sleruer will Than
her own; she is furnished with wealth Of
affection which makes her burden of snbor.
dIna,ion light, and mets and moulds 10 ten
derness the controller of her destiny.
l. Al L... ..