Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-10-29
ADVICE TO THE WIVES OF MER-
CHANTS.

There Is degree OF pertinent appiioaSi1.
as well es Of wnmanly feeling In the annexed
| that will make it acceptable eVerywhere.
| There arc many words of wisdom written
| for men during this financial excitement; may
| venture TO utter some thoughts OF counsel
and encouragement to the wiyes of New York
merchants should seek a more private
medium Of communication, were there such
to be found, but the columns of an evening
paper seem my most ready mouth piece.
These are stormy times indeed, such as We
have never known before. Our husbands are ia
the midst Of the din and strife Of business, or,
rather, Of the downfall of all business. Little
do we know of the perplexi y and distraction,
the despair and agony, the torture and dismay,
which redd their hearts during such seasons OF
peril. Let us then patiently bear with every
caprice of temper-with ifritability, tacitcurn-
ity, seeming want OF sympathy, abstracted
thoughts, even with the hasty word. There
are diversities of disposition. Some men can
smile and be tender when their thoughts are
ever so distracted such are the favored ones.
Others have no caresses for the lreside while
their cares are at the countlng-house. Re-
proach not such even in thought. Their
hearts may be as tender and as true. Make
your husbands home bright and cheerful in
spite of his worried, anxious face, and though
you sec it not, his care is lightened. And,
then, should the dreaded blow fall-should
those nightmare words "suspended," ssfailed,p
be appended to the hitherto honored and
spotless manchester for the football, place
your hand, never so lovingly, on the throbing
temples-fold the aching head to your bosom
in its fondest embrace-whisper the words
which your life's study have taught are the
dearest, and already the demon of dispair is
exercised, and angels of Hope are near to aid.
Yes, this is the hour of our blessed privilege
worth more than lifetime of the worlds
iatteTy.
Aud now will begin the duty of cheerful
economy-cheerfulb because it is duty, and be-
cause lightened by affection. The keenest
pang to your husbands heart, as he contem-
plated the wreck of his fortune, was the
thought that You mcst suffer privation. Show
him now the side of your character he perhaps
never knew before. Let him feel that this is
not the trial to hush the voice Of your song
Anticipate him in every necessary eDtrench-,
ment. Throw your quick perceptions, your
ready ingenuity, your willing fingers into the
work. Bring from the wardrobe the articles
laid aside az useless. See how they will serve
the, pa46e5, Ealrnasss-X will ihs aiirasiss.d
yourself in your shabbiest attire, and with the
air of a martyr, give your husband to UNDER
stand that you arc ready to be offered up. II
you are gifted with lovelincss OF person, It is
precious now to adorn the simplest attire--if
you arc plain, depend upon upon it, with that
look of cheerful love you have new charm TO
your husbands eye, do not believe there
is woman in the United States whose hus-
band has been enjoying an income OF over
81, 600 a year, but could array horself becom-
ingly for at least twelvemonth without the
purchase of single article. Pledge yourselves
to your own consciences to indulge in no per-
sonal luxury until your husbands honor Is
spotless and his anxieties at rest. 1t Is cry
ing shame that a womau's heart should turn,
even in its private longings, towards those
things which honesty forbds she should pos
sess. These would not be luxurles TO a true
woman's taste; they would sicken and disgust.
Before many days there will be claims on our
sympathy heart-rending enough. We must
grid ourselves with charity Of the tendercst
and most judicious character. II you have
dollar to spend, hoard up at least the half for
the suffering poor. Do our utmost, there will
be want and sorrow, such as VIC have newer
seen before. May God in heaven relieve X.
Here are women's dearest rights-the right
to comfort, to soothe, to strengthen. In lux
urious ease we have too long folded our hands
unmindful of our Heaven-bestowed preoga-
tive. For long we that should minister have
been content to be ministered unto. Now is
our day of power. Let us live in 1t nobly.-
All the things which men have trusted in have
failed them but let it still be said with truth /:
" The heart OF her husband doth safely trust
in her."
Does the way seem rugged So it is some
times. But trod with willing feet, in the
strength of that calm, clear atmosphere which
ever rests upon the paths Of duty, it leads
it straight out on to tho green spots of sammy
rest, which already charm our eye in the pros
pect. And above all, there falls ever on the
listening ear those precious words of COM
mendation from the lips of our Savionr, HShe
hath done what she could"