The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-03-28


1 do not know but it is; and though
they often abuse their power, it may
yet be the lesser of two evils, for am
not quite sure that we should prove
ourselves any better able to govern
justly and wisely than they. You ask
if a wife should always yield. viii
only say as matter of fact, paradox
cal as it may seem, those wives who
yield the most implicitly rule the most
imperiously. They do so because they
bind their husbands hearts with
stronger cords than those which bound
Samson-cords of love, which make
them anxious to crafty every wish, if
proper and possible. This result is not
because of the wife's submission"
but because it shows a confidence in
his judgment, respect for his charac-
ter, and gentleness of soul which no
man who is man can resist. On the
other hand, every time the wife sets up
her will against his, and shows de-
termination to worry him into a COM
pliance with her wishes, against his
Judgment, by teasing, fretting, orother-
wise, or yields only because his will and
and his powers are the strongest, she
sunders one of those cords, and may,
in little while, crush out all of his af-
fection; with agonies to him worse than
death. AT least, this is the conclusion
to which / have come, after a long life
and a sad experience of my own. |
have suffered, but by Divine grace |
was led to see my error before / had
quite made wreck of all happiness.
When / had almost weaned my hus-
bands last yearnings of love, l made
him as said, by Divine grace-for /
could not have done it alone-again the
devoted lover; and 1 enjoyed second
honeymoon, that lasted till saw his
spirit depart, prepared, as he was, for
the higher duties of holier world"
The old lady slowly removed her
spectacles, to wipe a tear from her eye
and continued -
"I will tell you some of my history,
though it brings up some bitter memo
ries. But that is nothing, if others can
benefit by my experience.
{" 1 am not what l once was, nor is
the world what it once was to me. But,
oh, the struggle that this change cost
me! Yet the victory was worth it all.
| was a spoiled child l did not know
it then-few of my friends knew it.
1t was severe experience that taught
it to me. | had an affectionate disposi-
ton, all my wishes were gratified, and
| thought they always should be. Self
denial was a lesson / never thought of
learning, and no one knew the strength
of my unbroken will, because it was so
little resisted. / was poor, but had no
idea of the value of money, except to
spend for the first thing my fancy COW
eted. If dollar was all possessed,
l would have sharedit with q friend for
the first qualification that presented ;
and if my desires were ungratified, it
was only because they must be, and
that was not self-denial. Thus others
were almost as much deceived in me as
| was in myself. They thought me
wholly unselfish, and little dreamed that
| had hid away i'll my heart, self-will
that never slept.
|
knowing and unknown, till Mr.. Morti-
mer offered me his hand. He had lost
wife, not many years before, whom
he almost adored, and he promised me
the same devotion he had given her.
| had known her intimately, and felt
that if | could be loved as she was ]
should be satisfied. He appeared de-
voted to me, and l became his wife
hoping to fill the place of the last one
in his heart. / thought l wanted to
restore happiness to his heart, and did
not dream how much self had to dc
with my plans. He had property, and
f, felt that in marrying me, he gave me
9 not only legally, but morally, an equa
: right~teit, and was able to support me
, genteely-tfat i-ip in style equal te
. anybody else. 1t was the sane sane te mt mt
as though l had toiled with him in it
: acquisition. 1 forgot the years in which
y he had struggled and sacrificed hi
personal comfort, and that his first com
3 panion had practiced self.denial il
obtaining it. only considered tha
!. money was good for nothing but tt
: spend and enjoy, 1 believed though
mistakenly, that he could afford t.
t grant all my desires; and when made
e my wishes known, it was with tone
: if not in the words, of denaoad :, anC
$ though / accomplished my purpos,
l often by teasing and worrying him til
e he yielded, contrary to his judgment
= l little dreamed how dearly was m,
D victory bought How could he bu
+ despise me, when l gave him ever,
: reason to think that Iloved his none,
e quite as much as / did him, ant
o claimed greater rights to it than die
e the lost one whose economy and Low,
S helped him earn it? l thought not O
these things, but believed he was bount
= to crafty and love me, whether
S showed myself lovely or not.
8" If we differed in opinion, coul,
r not believe that his superior experienc
Z, and knowledge of the world ought t,
1t make him the most competent judge
e SO never yielded my judgment t
K his. Yielding in opinion was as un
$, natural to me as yielding in conduct
l. My husband saw that had no respec
ia for hic md d;n~ b,< oo,.:lo..