Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-10

praycr,-
'0h Lord, bless me and my wife,
My son John and his wife,
Us four,
No more,
Amen ~
it is petition that has literally express
ed my hearts desire for years, with this re-
suit, that the Lord has blessed me and my
wife, but He has not blessed my son John
and his wife. Thinking il all over tonight
as 1 have, reclining in my easy-chair be-
fore the fire, l have come to the conclusion
that my blessings and my son Johns curse
are attributable to the difference in our
wives.
For some of these differences eide below
AS lass, my wife was bred at home in n
great many old-fashoned notions, like the
honor due parents, veneration to superiors,
the value of time, human accountability,
and woman's responsibility. She was in
structed, moreover in the art of bread max
ing, and variety of useful employments.
My son Johns wife received her educa-
ton at one of the fashionable boarding
schools that turn out young ladies with all
the modern improvements. Among these
improvements, so-called, was the convic-
ton that pateTJdmiliarS, as she learnedly
dubbed him, was dear old fellow to pay
bills, delicious sort of banking institu-
ton, that has no credit pages in its system
of bookkeeping, and never balanced ac-
counts. Farther than this, pater was some
thing of an old fogy, whose opinions were
entirely out of date and too ridiculous for
respect or adoption. MdtelJdmilidrS, also
was a very good woman in her way. As a
medium of communication between her
self and the eXchequer, she had do equal,
and better endorser with the family bank
er could not be found. But mater, too,
was full of obsolete notions, and not up to
the times by any manner Of means. An
other modern improvement was the con-
viction that the time not consumed in eat
ing, drinking, sleeping, dressing, party
going and novel reading, was an unmiti-
gated bore, to be killed by any possible eX-
pedient. The other modern improvements
were mainly playing indiflerently on pi-
ano, painting poorly in oils, dancing grace
fully, flirting skilfully, gossiping reckless
ly and doing nothing genteelly.
AS lass, my wife was a buxom woman,
glowing with health and happiness. Oh,
the redness of her plump cheek and the
brightness of her sparkling eyes She did
not need to respond in her hearty, mer-
ry tones, to inquiries after her health,
81 am very well, thank your Her ro-
sy cheeks and rounded form, and clear,
strong tones testified to her well-being.
AS a lass, my son Johns wife was pale
and fragile creature-like a lily or snow
| flake, said John. She had mild languid
eyes, and thin, baby voice, that respond
ed family to queries after her health, 81 am
miserable to-day" and the next day
would say, 81 am not as well as was yes
terday."
As married woman, my wifes nerves
are q help TO her and me but am of the
opinion that the nerves of my son Johns
wife are more of hindrance than a help.
There is the same difference in the heads
and hearts and bones and backs of the two
women. My wife's 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 herat, full of pure blood
and the seat of womanly affections. The
heart of my sons wife is the seat of dis
ease, and its blood lacks iron. My wife's
bones are equal to the full duties incum-
bent upon sound bones but the bones o
my sons wife are deficient in lime, soda ol
magnosia, and are full of aches and pains
My wifes back is strong enough to boai
the burdens of the day, but the back of my
sons wife is always broken and troubled
with lumbago.
My wife takes for her model the virtuoui
woman in Proverbs :-"She riseth while i
is yet night, and givoth meat TO her house
hold and bread TO her maidens."
My son Johns wife arises towards noon
and has very indistinct notions of wha
kind of meats the household is fed with, o
what kind of bread her maidens are eat
ing.
My wifo has quick elastic steps, and rap
id-moving hands that are always busy
Like the kings yirtuous woman, SSH
girdeth her loins with strength, an'
strengtheneth her arms"
NV son Johns wife moves slowly an'
gracefully, and her hands are general,
folded in elegant repose. The girdling o
her loins is not strength, | am sure, bu
some arrangement of whalebone.
My wifo's industry is well directed in
variety of useful employments. ssh
layeth her hands to the spindle, and he
hands hold tho distafl."
My son Johns wife has a taste for fame.
work. She layeth her hands to the crotche