The Van Buren press., 1861-05-01
Mgistellaan.
FROM the Flag Of our Union.
The Mothers Lesson.
BY AUSTIN @. BuRDIcK.

| 90. no, but will. though"
"No. no, Laura. You must not speak
in that manner"
And why not?. Why, mother. to hear
You talk. one would suppose were abou.
to enter q nunnery instead of being marri-
ed. No tell you no husband rules me
shall be my own mistress
Laura, Laura. be serious, now, and
listen to me, for can see the ro.k upon
which your bark of happiness may be
wrecked"
"But tell me, mother, would you have
me the slave of a husband : Am going
to be married just for the sake of having
man to rule me? By no means. l
know my rights better. He may be assur-
ed that shall maintain all the privileges
that belong to me-"
my child, you misunderstood me-
You misconstrue my meaning. You know
your husband becomes responsible for your
support.
That's his own choice, isn't it 2"
Certainly, and he does it because he
hopes he shall be happy in your society.
A good husband looks for all that is kind
and gentle in his wife. His home is his
refuge from the cares and business of life,
and there he looks for the sweet peace and
content which no other spot on earth can
afford, and if he find it not there, where then
shall he look ? o, Laura, l tremble, lest
you should forget all this !"
| "Now, mother" uttered the half thought
less girl. "you will really provoke me
What is the use of making mountain out
of nothing?"
Hush, Laura Look upon what oc-
CURED last Sabbath evening. Then you
betrayed temper that made William really
unhappy"
"Well. and didn't he provoke me to it %
"No, by no means. He only wished
you to wear more suitable dress to the lec-
ture."
"And l should like to know what busi-
ness it is to him what dresses wear 2"
"a great dea!. Laura. He only request
ed that you would wear something more
around your neck and shoulders something
that would protect you against the cold
and surely . husband has . right to do
| that
"Then let him wait till he is my hus-
band. and. even then. I'll teach him that he
mustn't expect to rule me-"
Laura. sit down here by my side. and /
| will tell you something that have hitherto
kept from you. will open to you page
in my lite book that had meant to have
kept forever closed within my own heart"
The fair girl sat dowE by her mother
side and looked woaderingly up.
"It is of your father l would speak. :"
He died beforeI can remember"
The tears gathered more thickly in the
mothers eyes. and it was some time before
she could speak. but at length she comman.
cd her feelings. and laying her hand upon
her daughters brow she commenced
Laura, listen to me, now, for can
hold up to you mirror within which you
shall see what may be your own future
was scarcely eighteen when gave my hama
to James Burke. He was man oi warm
heart and kind feelings, and l know that
he loved me truly and faithfully yet his
feelings were impulsive; his sense Of right
in all his emotions he was sentative in the
extreme. He held his honor sacred, and to
small things he never stopped. Let me tell
you. my child, that William Wilmington is
almost his counterpart.
when ] married my husband, I knew
his disposition and feelings-I loved him,
and yet had resolved upon no pains to
meet his wishes and mako his home happy.
forgot that love has its imperative duties
that the mere marriage rslation may be
msde the most miserable on earth, instead
OF being the most happy. l forgot that
my own happiness depended on the happi-
ness OF my husband. and that he could not
be happy unless l. too. was happy. A very
small amount Of cool rsfsction would have
shown me this. but gave il litsls heed. l
did not remainder that The wife's dominion
was the hons Of her husbaad. and that that
so,1 should Be her earthly heevsp. look