The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-11-18

mo: one must do her part, Of course. If
there Is anything to do with. She must keep
his house II he can afford a house. But II he
nave only eight hundred dollars a-year! Why.
rent alone would consume half, or more. than
nail OF tnat. They would have no house,
keeping 10 that case. They must board
long2' $500 1a
she would have nothing to do
Gould she not teach? Or, by aid of a sew
ing-machine, earn few dollars every week |?
or engage in some other useful work that
would yield an income, and so do her part?'
Yes, she might do something OF the kind;
but II marriage is to make workers of US, il
were better to remain SINGLE
And live in unWomanly dependence on
our parents and relatives. No, Alice; there
is false sentiment prevailing on this subject,
and as think and talk, i see more and more
clearly. Our parents have been weak In their
love for us; and society as constituted, has
given us wrong estimate OF things.-"e
should have been required to do useful Work
in the household, from the beginning, and
should have been taught that ioieness and
set-indulgence were discreditable. Our broth
ers are put into 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
highest places are to be reached.-But we are
raised daintlly and uselessly, and so fitted for
our duties as wives and mothers Our pride
and self.esteem are fostered; and we come 10
think OF ourselves as future queens, and are
70 be mlnistered TO in all things, instead Of
being ministrants, In loving self-iorgetfulness.
to others. No wonder that an anti marriage
sentiment Is beginning 10 prevail amongst
young men Of moderate incomes, Ia all the
large cities. The sin lies at our door. We
demand too much la the copartnership. We
are not willing to do our share OF work.-Our
husbands must bear all the burdens.D
Alice sighed heavily. Her friend con
tinued: r-
Il 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 heavenly delight |
here, must be that state into which wife !
comes when she stands by her husbands side, (
and, out OF love for him, removes one burden 7
and another from his shoulders, aud so light
ems his work, that smiles take the place of !
WEAKNESS, and the shadowings of care. II he l
be rich, she can hardly have so great a privi- I
lege; bat II they are alike poor, and know
how TO moderate their desires, their homes
may become an Image OF paradise. Eight
hundred dolarsi Alice, IL you were really
ntted 10 become Harry's wife, you might live
with him doing your part, happier than any
queen" -9i
"That Is, must take in work, and earn
money we board; or-but housekeeping is
out Of the question:
mo, it should never be out of the question
In marriage think" sst@
"But house-rent alone would take half Of
our income." eW
That does not follow" ao8
1T does, for any house that / would con-
$50 pride Is stronger than love- But pride
has Its wages as well as love; and the one is
bitter, while the other is sweet. 1t is this pride
OF appearance, this living for the eyes of other
people who do not care penny for US, that is
Inarrlng the fair fabric of our social life. Fine
houses, fine furniture; fine dresses, parties,
shows, and costly luxuries OF all kinds, are
consuming domestic happiness, and burdening
fathers and husbands, in all grades of society,
with embarrassment and wretchedness. Alice,
we must be wiser in our generation
"That is, coop ourselves up in two or three
mean little rooms, with our eight hundred a
year husbands, and do our own cooking and
housework. Is that it, my pretty one ?"
For shame, Aiicei You do not deserve a
good man. Yon are not worthy to wed Harry
Peasants, and trust you will pass him by,
should he be weak enough to offer you his
hand. He can't afford to marry girl of your
expectations; he must content himself with
one, who, like himself regards life as real, life
IS earnest; and the way OF usefulness and du-
y the way to true honor and the highest hap
1iness.n ,a ss44
Suppose you take him, Fanny" said Alice,
half sportingly, half petulantly. She was
weak, proud, vain girl. 30 8a8aB
'If he should offsr himself, perhaps Willis
80, then il he kneels at my feet. will refer
him to you as one likely to make him a good
cook and ehambermaid." ;" klN 8.5 g s-lTl1I
"Do, II you please. l always liked Harry,
and don't think it will take much effort on
my part to love him. He is a great deal bet
ter off in the world than am, having an in
come of eight hundred dollars year, while I
have nothing. On that sum, am sure, we Il
could live In comfort, taste and happiness.
would not keep servant to wait on me so
long as could do the work of our little house
hold. Why should keep a servant any more
than hep l would find mental recreation and
bodily health in the light tasks our modest T
household would require. Need we care what
the world would say? And what would the l
world say?" m es3 se
"That your husband had no business to mar
ry, If he ceuldn' support his wife," Jqr
mot by any means, Alice. The world would 1
say, There's sensible couple for you, and
wife worth having. Wen endorse them for
happiness and prosperity And what is more,
Alice, others will be encouraged to act the
same wise part, and thus be made happy thro'
our example. I'll take Harry If he offers him
self, and show you model home and a model
wife; so pass him over to me shonld he lay his
fortune at your feet" @ se1