Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-04-01
Ny Wife and my Sons Wife.

NY WIG anu my NOuS VIE.
Barring the sel6shness of the old mans
prayer
"Oh Lord, bless rae and my wife
My son John and his wife,
Us iour,-no more,-Ament"
it is petition that has literally expressed
my hearts desire for years, with the result
that the Lord blessed me and my wife, but
He has not blessed my son John and his wife
Thinking it all over tonight as have re-
cined in my easy-chair, have come to the
conclusion that my blessing and my son
Johns curse attribute to the difference in our
wives.
For some of these differences ride below.
As lass, my wife was bred at home in a
great many old-fashioned notions, like the
honor due parents, veneration TO superiors,
the value of time human accountability. and
woman's responsibility. She was instructed
moreover, in the art of bread-making, and n
variety of useful employments.
My son Johns wife received her education
at one of the fashionable boarding schools
that turn out young ladies with all the modern
improvements. Among these improvements,
so-called, was the conviction that the Pater-
faniilias, as she learnedly dubbed him, was
dear old fellow to pay bill, delicious sort
of banking institution that had no credit
page in his system of book keeping, and
never balanced accounts Farther than this,
pater was something of an old fogy, whose
opinions were entirely out of date and too
ridiculous for respect or adoption. Mater
familias also was a very good woman in her
way. As medium of communication be-
I,,.eaIf ...l h. Il. 4
equal and a better eudorser with the family
banker could not he found But mater, too,
was full of obsolete notions, and not up to
the times, not concerned in eating, drinking,
sleeping, dressing. party-going, and novel;
reading was an unmitigated bore, to be killed
by any possible expedient The other modern
improvements were mainly playing indlffer-
emily on the piano, painting poorly in oils,
dancing gracefully, flirting skillfully, gossip
ping recklessly, and doing nothing genteelly
As lass, my wife was buxom woman
glowing with health and happiness. Oh
the redness of her cheeks and the brightness
of her sparkling eyes She did not need to
Lrcspond, in her hearty, merry tones, to in
fqufrfcs after FER heaith, L am very we'll,
thank you Her rosy cheeks, and rounded
form, and clear, strong tones testified to her
well-being
As lass, my son Johns wife was pale
and fragile creature, like lily or snowflake,
John said. She had mild, languid eyes, and
a thin, baby voice that responded family to
queries after her health, am miserable to-
day : and the next day would say Il am
not so well as | was yesterday
As married woman, my wife's nerves are Il
help to her and me F.; but am of opinion that
the nerves Of my son Johns wife are more of
a hlnderancc than a help. There is the same
difference in the heads and hearts and bones,
and backs Of the two women. Ny wifes
head plans, contrives, considers and designs.
The head of my sons wife aches, throbs, and
is always ready to split My wifes heart is a
good steady human heart, full of pure blood
and the seat OF womanly affections. The
heart Of my sons wife is the seat of disease
and its blood lacks iron. My wife's bones
are equal to the full duties incumbent on
sound bones, but the bones of my sons wife
are deficient in lime, soda, or magnesia, and
are full of aches and pains My wife's back
is strong to bear the burdens of the day. but
the back of my sons wife is always broken
and troubled with hmbago
My wife takes for her model the virtuous
woman in Proverbs She riseth while it is
yet night and giveth meat to her household
and bread to her maidens'
My son Johns wife's arises towards noon,
and has very indistinct notions what kinds of
meats the house is fed with, or what kind of
bread her maidens are eating.
My wife has quick, elastic steps and rapid
moving hands that are always busy. Like
the kings virtuous woman, She girdeth her
loins with strength and strengthened her
arms
My son Johns wife moves slowly and
and her hands are generally folded
in elegant repose. The girding of her loins
is not strength, | am sure, but some arrange
ment Of whalebone.
My wifes industry is well directed in
variety of useful employment. She layeth
her hands to the spindle, and her hand holds
the distaff.'
My son Johns wife has taste for fancy
work She layeth her hands TO the crochet
needle, aud her hands hold the tatting-shuttle. /
My wife is always well dressed, and her
are mainly of domestic manuGc-
ture. She has a prototype in the habit Of
the yirtuous woman, who 'maketh herself
coverings of tapestry"
My son Johns wife is gorgeously attired
in society; but my son John groans over the I
bills of importers, dress-makcrs and millin-
ers.
My wife is charming at the breaktast-table. I
Smooth hair and tidy dress, a white collar,
and a smiling face make up her charms.
My sou Johns wife, if she appear at the
breakfast-table, is not charming. Her hair
is in crimping-pins and curling-papers her
slippers are down at the heel her dress is
shabby and she wears no collar Venus her
self would be ugly in such attire.
My wife "openeth her mouth with wisdom
and in her tongue is the law of Kindness
My son Johns wife openeth her mouth
with complaints, and fault-fnding, and fretful
murmurs, and idle gossip, and unreasonable
demands, and her tongue is in the bad habit
of scoding.
NV wife " looketh well TO the ways Of her
household, and eateth not the bread of idle
aess
My sou Johns wife trusts the ways of her
household to servants, and eats the bread of
her cook when she has one, and the nearest
bakers whom she has not.
My wife is a good mother TO her children.
From infancy to maturity she has watched,
instructed, and cared tenderly for them Her
attention to taeir physical wants has been
Uniform and discreet, and her devotion to
their higher interests has been vigiant and
pndagging.