Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-06
Written tor the HERALD.
Jack and Gill.
As far back as can remember, I seem
to have known a beautiful little ditty,
which rims in this wise:

As far back as I can remember, seem
to have known a beautiful little ditty,
which runs in this wise:
"Jsck and Gin went up the hill,
After a pail of water;
Jack fell doUn and broke his crown,
And Gill came tumbling after ~
Since the. day when mother Goose"
the first poeteSS of any note, began to COM
pile her wonderful edition, every child
from the civilized countries has doubtless
learned this interesting story, for the vol
ume of poems entitled "Mother Goosle's
Melodies" has been alike open to girls and
boys. Marvellous to relate If we con-
slider the old lady in the light of his
torian, merely relating without bias
tragic occurrence we would claim her as
an advocate of "woman's rights" most
certainly but if the sentiment contained
in this particular melody be her own, we
shall doubt any professions she may have
made to being a leader in the woman
movement.
Let us, however, without further pre-
limaries consider the painful history of
the two important individuals SO poeti-
cally introduced to our notice. We may
thus be enabled to declare some lesson of
worth to ourselves. .....
For long while had the impression
that Jack and Gill were both boys, two
very obedient little fellows, sent by their
mother on the errand of bringing to her a
I,Dc
partitions The we'll was at a consider
able distance from the rude little cottage
which they called home, and 'the hill''
lay between, but Jack and Gill unmur-
mingly marched mp the steep accent day
after day bringing the water so necessary.
However, once upon time, hearing the
expression every Jack has his Gill;" new
light dawned upon my understanding,
and l recognized the fact that Gu belong
ed, as Olive Logan would say, "to the sex
that can't vote" So then it was not two
boys or two men, neither a boy and girl,
but, in all human probability, man and
his wife, who "went up the hill after
pail of water" Mother Goose was I'M
doubtedly endeavoring TO express, in
rhyme, her ideas of married harmony
Jack and Gill both going together for the
water. So, were it not for the fact that
we find Gill walking behind on their re-
turn q dare say she was carrying the
water, according to the customs of those
days. we should have supposed this to be
a model pair. But from this one truth
we may conclude that Gill walked behind
her liege lord, in token of her wifely IN
feriority, or that if they went up together
they had quarreled at the top of the hill
Jack hurrying home in rage, and Gill
walking leisurely after Jack in his haste
could not see straight, and stubbing his
toe against something in the path rolled
down the bill rather suddenly, while Gill
from force of education tumbled after.
Every one has his idea of what true
marriage should be. No one belives that
marriages in the common acceptation Of
the word are made in Heaven, because
all about are seen abundant evidences that
the majority of them are purely 'of the
earth, earthly"
No heavenly or divine element seems to
enter into them. The marriage vow is
a mere popular ceremony, to be taken on
and thrown off at ones pleasure; or il
still understanding its strength in regard
to duration, more weighty and solemn
considerations by far are violated day after
day and year after year. With such mar
risges you may be sure God has had very
little to do. 1t is to be feared that Satan's
transforming power extends much far