Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-04
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MAY !. 1859.
TRIALS OF GOOD WIVES.

Married lite may not br one Oh happiness
10 the hest of wives, for reasons and causes
over which she has no control AT the time
Of her marriage. her prospects for the future
nav have all been unclOudcd; her husband
may have heen one apparently worthy of
her love. and yet afterwards hr may have
exhibited traits Of character which were pre-
viously un,uspected; proving himselfto he
an utterly unappreciative, selfish, and ex-
acting master. dishonoring and disgracing
the name of husband; or the too conhding
wife may have been shocked I" find him uIl-
der the dominion Of vicious habits which
destroyed all hope Of domestic peace At
the time Of their union neither of them may
have been pious; but when she became So, ii
provoked the displeasure of her husband,
and perhaps, exposed her to long series
of petty prosecutions which cnbittered life,
not because she was unable TO bear them,
but because of the anguish awakened in her
heart that one nearly allied 10 her should
exhibit such enmity to God. and SO provoke
his curse
Hard indeed is the lot Of the poor woman
who is welded to one who hates the cause
which is mex pressibly dear IL her, and who
by ridicule. SCOTS, and abuse, Furnishes her
for being better than himself No one can
look in her face without being convinced that
she il borne down by the pressure Of some
heavy grief Her countenance gives unmls-
takeable indication of some rooted sorrow.--
She walks about among the living. but sees
few charms in the employments of life. In
secret she mOurns her trial, for it is one
which she cannot speak of 10 another. In
the presence of her husband she strives to re-
press her anguish and look cheerful, but her
heart is faint and nature struggles against
the unreal appearance.
He sees the conflict, the kind but fruitleSs
effort to conceal her distress. and perhaps
cursing her tears he avoids the home dark
ened by the shadow which he himself has
cast, and seeks in the haunts of heartess
mirth and dissipation, an escape from the re-
Dukes of his own conscience
How many bright eyes grow dim" ex-
claims the most classic of American writers,
chow many soft cheeks grow pale-how
many lovely forms fade away into the tomb
and none can tell the cause that blighted
their loneliness. As the dove will clasp it's
wings to its side, and cover and conceal the
arrow that is preying on its vitals, so it is the
nature of woman to hide from the world the
pangs Of wounded affection. She buries
her sorrow in the recessess Of her own bosom
and let's it COVER and brood among the ruins
of her own peace. Look for her after Il lit
tie while and you will find friendship weep
ing over her untimely grave, and wondering
that one who bnt lately glowed with, all the
radiance of health aud beauty should so
speedily be brought down to darkness and
the worm" You will be told of some wintry
chill, some casual indisposition, that laid her
iow;-but no one knows of the mental mala-
dy which previously Slapped her strength,
and made her so easy pray to the spoiler.
1t is domestic sorrow, unrevealed and un-
suspected, that often digs these premature
graves.
But whatever be the occasion of the wifes
unhappiness, whether it proceed from the bad
temper Of her husband, or from his intemper-
ance, or insane Jealousy, or hatred of her
religion-still her duty remains the same
until illegal separation becomes unavoidable;
as long as they continue to live together,
Gods holy word, (which affords practical in
struction for the right discharge of all the
duties belonging to all the relations of life
requires her msekly to bear her cross; re-
quires her still to study her husband welfare;
to refrain from denominations; to set n watch
over the door Of her lips; to obey his COM
mands as long as they do not conflict with
the law Of God; to pray for him; and cease
lessly to strive to win him back to the love
and practice of his duty. by the beautiful con-
sistency Of her example, by her patience.
humility, and attractive piety.
However such counsels may be treated with
levity by some. or with contempt by others,
they are not the counsels of man. but the ex-
plicit teachings of holy Scripture, and bind
ing upon all who profess to he governed by
the Divine will The language Of the Apps
tie is, Likewise, We wives, be in subsection
to your own husbands, that. if any obey not
the word, they also may without the word 10
won by the conversation oftheir wives while
they beholed your chaste conversation coupl-
ed with fear" The word Conversation
refers to the whole department and manner
of life, and the injunction is that if the hus-
band of the pious wife be without respect for
the authority of God, she is still to yield him
proper honor, because he is her husband and
by her holy example strives to disarm his res
eminent, and win him to the practice of
virtues like her own.
Then, Jet the dutiful wife under all her dis
patiently persevere in the dis
charge of duty: let her hope on-prsy on
Like the disciples of old. let her ''go and tell
Jesus" her sorrow; ASSURED Of his ready, ten
der sympathy. lie will dry her tears, and
if he does not remove her affection, he will
sanctify it. and make it the means of prapar-
ing her for the consultations Of Heavens own
peace. And it may be her joy so see her hdel-
ity to duty rewarded even in this life; she
may vet DE the instrument of the salvation Of
her husband: she may Yet how with him
around the family altar; she may yetsit with I.
him Mt the communion table: she may yet
enter Heaven with him. and find full re-
compense for all her snfferings in sharing its
blessedness with him, while he shall ever
gratefully acknowledge her as the instrument
of his salvation.-CentralP Presbyterian.
0IABINET, CHAIR, AND SOFA MANCFAC-
~ TORY. No. 100 King street. Aiero"dri". IA. !
Having lately fitted up one of the handsomcst
and most spacious Warerooms in the city. for the
BUSINESS. ! respectfully invite
public attention to my large stock of FuRNl- |
TURE, which am constantly Derss.ing. Per-
sons visiting onr city will find it t." their advan-
faro to give mo cnll, the range of my dooDS.
IN respect to quality and price, is such ~ to over
The wanta and views of AL. Ny stock con- rl"'
Mahogany Sofas. Rocking. Cane ani Wood Seat
Sitting Chairs. Sidebosrds. Dressing Bureaus
marble ton and plain) Marble Top and Plain