, 1868-10-02
A Good Wife.


virtue of a woman, tell stronger story of its
worth, than upon the dawning habit of q
child Where can her grace Of character
win higher and ripper effect, than upon
the action of her household What mean
these noisy declaimers who talk of the
feeble influence, and of the crushed faculties
Of a woman?
deayor, depends more on Its teacher. than
the home upon the mother? What influence
of an-the worlds professors, and teachers
tells SO strongly on the habit of mans
mind, as those gentle droppiDgs from a moth
er's lips, which day by day, and hour by
hour, grow into the enlarging stature of his
soul, and live with it foreverH They can
hardly be mothers who aim at broader and
nosier field; they have forgotten to be
daughters; they must needs have lost the
hope of being wives.
Be this how it may, the heart of man,
with whom affection is not name, and love
mere passion of the hour, yearns toward
the quiet of home, as toward the goal of
his earthly joy, and hope. And as you fas-
ten there, your thought, an indugent, yet
dreamy fancy paints the loved image that is
to adorn it. and to make it sacred
She is there to bid you-God speed J.
and an adieu, that hangs like music on your
ear, as you go out to the every day labor of
life. At evening, she is there to greet you,
as you come back wearied with days toll !;
and her look SO full of gladness, cheats you
of your fatigue; and she steals her arm
around you, with a soul of welcome, that
beams like sunshine on her brow, and that
fills your eye with tears of twin gratitude
to her, and Heaven.
She is not unmindful of those old>fashion-
ed virtues of cleanliness, and of order, which
give an air ofquiet, and which secure con-
tent. Your wants are all anticipated the
fire is burning brightly the clean hearth
flashes under the joyous blaze the old elbow
chair is in its place. Your very unworthi
ness of all this, haunts you like an accusing
spirit, and yet penetrates your heart with
new devotion, toward the loved one who is
thus watchful of your comfort
She is gentle keeping your love as she
has won it, by thousand nameess and mod
est virtues, which radiate from her whole
life and action. She steals upon your affec-
tions like a summer wind breathing softly
over sleeping valleys. She gains mastery
over your sterner nature, by every contrast !;
and wins you unwitingly to her lightest wish
And yet her wishes are guided by that dei>
cate tact which avoids conflict with your
manly pride; she subdues, BY seeming to
yield. By single soft word of appeal, she
ro5s your vexation Of its anger and with a
slight touch of that fair hand, and one plead
ing look of that earnest eye, she disarms your
sternest pride.
She is kind shedding her kindness, as
Heaven sheds dew. Who indeed could
doubt it ?-least of all, you, who are living
on her kindness, day by day, as flowers live
on light? There is none of that oficious
parade, which blunts the point of benovo>
ence; but it tempers every action with
blessing. If trouble has come upon you,
she knows that her voice beguiling you into
cheerfulness, will lay your fears and as she
draws her chair beside you, she knows that
the tender and confdiug way, with which
she takes your hand looks up into your earn
est face, will drive away from your annoy
ance all its weight. As she fingers, leading
off your thought with pleasant words, she
knows we'll that she is redeemiag you from
care, and soothing you to that sweet calm,
which such home, and such wife can alone
bestow. And in sickness,--sickness that
you almost covet for the sympathy it brings,
that hand of hers resting on your fevered
forehead, or those fingers playing with the
scattered locks, are more full of kindness
than the loudest vaunt of friends; and when
your failing strength will permit no more,
you grasp that cherished hand with full
ness of joy, of thankfulness, and of love,
which your tears only can tell.
She is Good her hopes live where the
angels live. Her kindness and gentleness
are sweetly tempered with that meekness
and forbearance, which are born of Faith.
Trust comes into her heart as rivers come
into the sea. And in the dark hours of
doubt and forboding, you rest fondly upon
her buoyant faith, as the treasure of your
oUmmUu rrro; and In your holler musings,
YOU lock to that frail hand, and that gentle
spirit, to lead you away, from the vanities of
worldly ambition, to the fullness of that joy,
which the good inherit.
oo->-~~~~-O-o~
Por-PIE.-AlI kinds of fresh meat will
roaLo -ood MI y1ipe huk heef veal and chick