Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-24
HINTS FOR WIVES.

HINTS FOR WIVES.
aObedience is a very small part of conjugal
duty, and, in most cases, easily performed
Much of the comfort of married life depends
upon the lady great deal more, perhaps,
than she is aware Of She scarcely knows her
own influence how much she may do by per-
suasion-how much by sympathy-how much
by unremittcd kindness and little attention
To acquire and retain such influence, she must
However, make her conjugal duties her hrst
object She must not think that anything will
do for her husband-that it is not worth whilo
to be agreeable when there is only her hus-
band by-that she may close her piano, or lay
aside her brush, for why should she play or
paint merely to amuse her husband! No-she
must consider all these little arts of pleasing
chiefly valuable on his account-as means of
perpetuating her attractions, and giving per-
manence to his aiiection-shc must remember
that her duty consists not so much in great
and solitary acts-in display OF the sublime
virtues TO which she will only be occasionally
called; but in trihes-in cheerful SMILE or a
minute attention naturally rendered, and pro-
ceedng from heart full of Kindness and II
temper full of amiability."
In looking over late paper, | met with
The above valuable hints on the duties ofwiyes
10 their lords, pointing out the mode in which
they were to secure, in the husband, the chi
yalrc devotion which had characterized the
lover. The most infalible specific, or the one
most strongly insisted upon in rules OF this
kind, is nsmiling countcnance," No matter
what wifc's nnnoyances may have been dur
ing the day, her countenance must be always
wreathed in smiles on the approach of her hus-
band.
Being one of those fortunate individuals, who
have hitherto escaped the moose, have had
leisure to give these subjects that profound re-
Election which characterizes those situated like
myself.
"For ifthere's anything in which shine
Ills in arranging all my friends affairs,
Not having of my own domestic cares
has often occurred to me, therefore, that
it was rather singular that all this good advice
should always come from one side. How is 1t
that there are so few guide-posts to point the
way to innocent young gentlemen, who have
recently submitted their neck to "the moose
and tho halter?" Why is it not oitener insist
ed upon, that the husband should always re-
turn to his Preside with smile, and endeayor
to soothe the perturbed spirit, that has for hours
been subjected to the thousand annoyances oil
the nursery and the kitchen?
There is many an unfortunate Mrs. Rogers
among my acquaintance, with thine small
children and one at the breast who need all
the soothing tenderness erst bestowed by the
lover, to enable them to forget the troubles SO
wearing to the nerves-by the way, it has
sometimes occurred to me whether it was moi
Mrs. Rogers who was the martyr, and hones
John most fortunate individual, to get so wei
'out Of the scrape,' of being obliged to MAXI
adequate provision for the filling those te'
small mouths, and the clothing those ten small
bodies
Compare for moment the lot of husband
and wives, in what is called a "well-regulatc'
famiy;n the former takes his seat at the break
ihst table, where his taste and comfort ma
been silently consulted, so far as is practicabl
on his wife devolves the care of preparing tn
"nine small children" to take their seats ther
also, and in some degree of regulating thei
conduct. Breakfast ended, the husband goe
forth to his workshop, his counter, his count
ing-house or his office; greets pleasantly III
acquaintance by the way, and passes the da
among the every-varying scenes of every-da
mi, g m
cessant clamor, must renew the treadmill tas
of yestcrday-must wash the same faces max
the same beds, sweep the same rooms mus
give directions for the succeeding meals, an
perhaps assist in preparing them must settl
disputes in the kitchen, and quarrels anon
The nine fallen little sons and daughters of h
Adam-and amid all these occupations mu
find occasional moments to "stitch-stitch-
stitchp the innumerable garments needed in
family.
Let her look to it, according to the sapic
and oft reiterated advice above alluded to, IN
she gets through all this in time to clotl
her harassed and care-worn yisage in tho
"wreathed Smiles" so indispensable iowa
maintaining the good-humor of her liege lor
He too has had troubles to encounter, for fro
trouble no one is excmpt-but not of that pet
harassing kind, that are wearing away t
spirits and the life of the partner he h
chosen.
Night comes-the husband finds the repo
SO much cedcd, to enable him to meet the
ayoidablc cares of tomorrow, and sleeps
quietly as t'thc babesin the wood" while
wife starts at the slightest noise to minister
the comfort of the restless inmates OF the tr'
die bed and the crib, all of whom are sure
be astir at the earliest dawn, and demand
the immediate care of the mother, who ri
weary and unreireshed, again to go thror
the same routine-truly she should smi
whether she always can is debatable qu
ton. insist therefore, that the hnsbi
should have full share of the advice SO law
ly bestowed on the wife.
Until better state of things can be oron
ahou. I an, FIRMLY received to continue