The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-27
"Nor can ]. Or roast a sirloin2"

or fancy knitting; cen sing and play; dance
and chatter;but as to the real and substantial
things of life we are ignorant and helpless
And, with all this, forsooth, we cannot think
of letting ourselves down to the level and
condition Of virtuous, intelligent young mel
who, in daily useful work, are earning fail
independence! We are SO superior that We
must have husbands able to support us il
luxurious idleness, or we will have none! W.
are willing to pass the man TO whom love
would unite us in the tenderest bonds, because
his income is small, and marry for position
one from whom the soul turns with instinct
i've aversion. Can we wonder that so many
~e unhappy"
"But eight hundred dollars, Fanny! How
i, it possible for married couple TO live in
any decent style, in this city, on eight hun
dred dollars year!"
"They may live in a very comfortable style
the wife is willing to perform her part"
] "What do you mean by her part, Fanny?'
i 1--WE will take it for granted that she is nc
hitter than her husband; that Having brought
him no fortune beyond her own dear self
isle cannot claim superior privileges"
| "WeIl?"
"He has to work through all the day."
! "WelI!"
| "Under what equitable rule is she ex
ismp.a"
"None. She must 80 her part, of course
If there is anything to do with. She must
keep his house, if he can afford house
But if he have only eight hundred dollars a
year! Why, rent alone would consume half
or more than half OF that. There would be
no house keeping in the case. They must
board"
"And the wife sit in idleness all the day
long!"
'She would have nothing to do"
.CouId she not teachs or by aid of sew.
ing machine earn few dollars every week!
or engage in some other useful work that
would yield an income, and so do her partl'
'Yes, she might do something Of the kind
but if marriage is to make workies' Of us, i,
were better to remain SINGLE
"And live in unwomanly dependence on
e...- -...-e-i. --a -.>i.i;-es. No, Alice; there
in their love for US; and sccreSsyy, = more and
ted, has given us wrong estimates Of things
We should have been required to do useful
work in the household; from the beginning;
and should have been taught that idleness
and self-indulgence were discreditable. Our
brothers are put to trades and professions
and made to comprehend, from the begin
nnp, that industry is honorable, and that the
say of useful work is the way by which the
worlds brightest places are to be reached
| But we are raised daintily and uselessly, and
| d fitted for our duties as wives and mothers.
Cur pride and seif,esteem are fostered; and
Ne come to think of ourselves as future
peens, who are to be ministered to in all
lt,ings, instead of being ministrant, in loving
Undergraduates to others. No wonder that
IA anti-marriage sentiment is beginning to
Irevail amongst young men Of moderate in.
ZONES in all our larger cities. The fault is
Ykva, Alice. The sin lies at our door. We
ttemand too much In this partnership. We
lire not willing to do our share Of work. Our
husbands must bear all the burdens"
Alice sighed heavily. Her friend con-
Iinued:
II have read somewhere that the delight
bf heaven is tho delight Of being useful. And
Il seems to me, As l dwell upon the thought,
That the nearest approach to heavenly delight
here must be that state in which wife comes
when she stands by her husband 3 siGe, and
but Of love for him, removes one burden and
another from his shoulders, and so lightens
|his work that smiles take the place OF weari-
mess and the shadowings Of care. II ne be
rich, she can hardly have so great priv'I-
Iece: bat il they are alike poor, and know how
Ito moderate their desires, their hones may
become an image Of Paradise. Eight hundred
dollars! Alice, ii you were really fitted to
become Harry's wife, you might live with
Thin, doing your part, happier than any
queen"
money. il we board; or-but house Keeping
lie out of the question:
.No: it should never be out q the question
in marriage, / think
aFor house-rent alone would take halt O
our income.
! aThat does not follow"
at does for any house would consent &c
live iu.n
$50 pride is stronger thsn love. But pride
has IT. wages - wen 20 'oses '~ - !:
bitter while the other is sweet. Is - hi'
pride disappearance, this living for the eye
of other. people, who do not care penny iof
us. that Is narring the fine fabric OF our 70
lc;sl life. Fine houses, fine furniture. lint
/ ldres.ee. parties, shows and costly Injuries Q
l III FINDS. are consuming domestic happiness
'i,rd Lurdsninq fathers and hnsbaDda, IN y
/ eredes Of society, with embarrassment an
1s,aschedness. Alice, We must b viser il
.|our gsneration." ..t.
.That Is, coop Ourselves up 10 two q I. thse
ma.n little rooms, with our. eight bundre'
dollar 1 year husbands, and do our ow'
I1oot;pr and hoaseSork. q that i n
[psetsy opel
axHce3 You do not deserve ! good rnsl
t4oo "a not worthy q wed Harry s lsssant'