The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-02-23

kind but If marriage is TO make 'workies
of US. il were better TO remain single"
And live in unwomanly dependence,
on our parents and relatives. M. Alice
there is false sentiment prevailing on
this subject, and ~ / think aud talk, sea
it more and more clearly. Our parents
have been weak in their love for us; and
society, as constituted, has given us wrong
estimates of things. We should have been
required TO do useful work in the house
hold, from the beginning and should have
been taught that idlcness and selfindul-
gence were discreditable. Our brothers
are put TO trades and professions, and
made to comprehend. FROM the beginning,
that industry is honorable, and that the
way Of useful work is the way by which
the worlds brightest places are to be
reached. But we are raised daintily and
uselrssly, and 70 fitted for our duties as
wives and mothers. Our pride and self
esteem are tostrred and We. come TO think
OF ourselves rs future queens, who are to
be minlstered to IN oil things, instead OF
being minisrfant, in loving seli-forgetinl-
ness 10 others. No wonder that an anti
marriage sentiment is beginning to pre-
vail amongst young men OF moderate in
comes in al our larger cities. The fault
is in Us, Alice. The sin lies at cur door.
We demand too much in this co-partncr-
ship. We are not willing to DO our share
of work. Our husbands must bear all the
burdens"
AlIce sighed heavily. Her friend con.
tinued:
al have read somewhere tbat the de
light of heaven is the delight Of being USE
full And it seems TO me as dwell upon
the thought, that the nearest approach TO
heavenly delight here must be that State
in which wife comes when she stands
by husbands side, and ont Of love Tor
HIM. removes one burden and another from
his shoulders, aud 40 lightens his work
that smiles take the place Of weariness and
the shadowings of care. If he be rich.
she can hardly have so great privilege /;
but if they are alike poor, and know how
TO moderate their desires. their homes may
become an image of Paradise. Eight hun
drcd dollars Alice, if you were really
fitted 10 become Uarry's wife, you might
live with him, doing your part, happler
than ary QUEEN
That il, ! must take in work ind earn
money, il We board or---bui house-kecp-
ing is out Of the question"
mo; it should never be out Of the
question in marriage, | think"
For housc-rent alone would take hail
of our income"
"That does not follow"
at does for any house would consent
to live in"
80 pride is stronger than love. But
pride has its wages rs well rs love and
the one is bitter while the other is sweet
1t is this pride of appearance this MVIng
care penny tor US that is marring the
fine fabric Of our social life. Fine houses,
fine furniture, fnc dresses, parties, shows
and costly luXuries Of all kinds, are con
Stunning domestic happiness, and burden
ing fathers and husbands, in nil grades Of
society, with embarrassment aud wretch
cdncss. Alice, We must be wiser in our
generation"
THAT is, coop ourselves up in two or
three mean httle rooms, with our eighi
hundred dollars year husbands, and do
our own cooking and housework. Is iha;
it, my pretty one T.
"Ahce, you do not deserve II good man.
You are not worthy TO we'd Harry Pleas
ants, aud | trust you viii pass him by,
should he Dc weak enough to o!ier you hi
hand. He can't afford to marry n giIl Of
your expectations he must content him
eli with one who, Ike himself, regards
ii" ~ red, life ~ earnest, and the way
pi use and duty ;hr way 80 true honor AMI
to the h,ghos' happiness"