The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-04-26

BEL AIR. MD. SATURDAY MORNING,

useful work, are earning fair indepen-
dence! We are SO superior that we must
have husbands able to support us in luxu-
rious idleness, or we will have none We
are willing to pass the man to whom love
would unite us in the tenderest bonds, be-
cause his income is small, and marry for
position one from whom the soul turns
with instructive aversion. Can we wonder
that so many are unhappy"
"But eight hundred dollars, Fanny -
How is it possible for married couple to
live in any decent style, in this city on
eight hundred dollars year"
"They may live in very comfortable
style if the wife is willing to perform her
part"
"What do you mean by her part, Fan
N.Y."
owe will take it for granted that she is
no better than her husband; that having
brought him no fortune beyond her own
dear self, she cannot claim superior privi-
leges."
| "Well ?"
"Under what equitable rule is she ex-
empt?"
"None. She must do her part of course,
if there is any thing to do with. She
must keep 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 housekeeping in the case
They must board"
| GApd tbo w;co ca -, s,Ji....aa...1l Il -
long ?"
"She would have nothing to do"
"Could she not teach or by aid of
sewing machine earn few dollars every
week? or engage in some other useful work
that would yield an income; and so do her
part 7" -
yes, she might do something of the
kind; but if marriage is to make Eworkies'
of us, it were better to remain single" z
""And live in unwomanly dependence on
our parents and relatives. No, Alice I;
there is false sentiment prevailing on
this subject, and as l think and talk,
see it more and more clearly. Our pa
rents 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 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
ming, that industry is honorable, and that
the way of useful work is the way bv
which the worlds brightest places are to
be reached. But we are raised daintily
and uselessly, aud SO untitled for our du-
ties as wives and mothers. Our pride
and self-esteem are fostered; and we come
to think of ourselves as future queens,
who are to be ministered to in all things,
instead of being ministrant, in loving self
forgetfulness to others. No wonder that
an anti-marriage sentiment is beginning
to prevail among young men Of moderate I
incomes in all our larger cities. The fault
is in US, Alice The sin lies at our door.
We demand toomuch in this copartnership.
We are not willing to do our share Of work.
Our husbands must bear ali the burdens"
Alice sighed heavily Her friend then
continued.
II have read somewhere that the delight
Of heaven is the delight Of being useful.
And It seems to me, as / dwell upon the
thought, that the nearest approach to heav-
emily delight here must be that state in
which wife comes when she stands by her
husband s side, and out Of love for him, re-
moves one burden and another from his
shoulders, and so lightans his work that
smiles take the place Of WEAKNESS and the
shadowings Of care. If he be rich she can ].
hardly have so great a privilege; but If
they are alike poor and know how to mod
crate their desires, their home may become
an image Of Paradise. Eight hundred dol
larsl Alice, if you were really fitted to be-
come Harry's wife, you might live with
him, doing your part, happier than any
queen, Il e s ~,
That is, must take in work and earn
money, if we board; or-but housekeeping
is out of the question" &.
No; il should never be out ofthe ques- 4
ton ID marriage, I think.
For house-rent alone would take half !
Rof our income. Il VI M
That does not, follow. 4
\ 4 does for any house / would consent
to live in. Z
$50 pride Is stronger than love But
pride has its wages as well a. love; and the
one i bitter while tie other ii sweet. tits
this pride Of appearance, this living forthe