The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-04-23
TALES or THE BORDERS.
THE CONTRAST or WIVES.
ALExANDER BkrHrHH


was kind of touchstone.
" I see nae delicacy in subject" replied
the boxmaster, "whar there's nae secresy.
How does it come to be known that my wife
is my counsellor and adviser Because
max nae secret O. what l hae nae reason to
be ashamed O.. / dinna ken how you feel,
Mr.. Waldie, but l think it's the pleasantest
thing on earth te be, as it were, compelled
to alloo yersel to be taen care O, and de-
Tended, and nursed, and petted, and ruled,
by guild wife. In my opinion, to be loved
by wife is only the half O oor right. Ony
woman may love a man-it's a woman
trade to love; but when you see dear
cratur takin the pains and tronble O. gov
ernin a yer actions-ay, and as it were,
even yer very thoug ghts-lookin wi keen
and careful ee after yer maist minute affairs,
regulatln yer conduct, keepin yer siller,
directin yer financial, domestic, personal,
private, and public operations and, in
short thinkin for ye-hOw is 1t possible for
a man to see sac muckle care taen wi him
and his concerns, without bein filled wi
gratitude and affection to her wha labors
sac officiously for bis guild ?"
"Mr. Andrew Todd," said the deacon,
;imPaaiseAly esySm nse asse9siw-ne-esh
maist pitifu and contemplate spirits that
ever warmed the sealy Body o reptile that
has nae sting. What man vi spark O.
independence in his breas: would think O.
resignin bis Judgment into the hands O. a
woman? They are guild crsturs in their
ain place, and bath interestin and usefu
when they arc occupied in cOnductin the
affairs O. their houses, obeyin the commands
o their husbands, and ministerin to his
SLIGHTEST wishes, as if every look were an
act of parliament; but to stOop to max a
woman a counsellor, to gle her vote in the
great council O til noble thoughts O man 1
divine mind Unhe. ID o humiliation
Why, man, woman is only the twenty
fourth part O. a man, seeiD we hae, as the
doctors say, tWentY-four ribs I; and we hae
the authority O Scripture for sayin that, al
the very best, she is only to help a man
She was. besides, the beginnin o a evil
And yet this fractional thing, this help
this unlucky author o the waes o mortals
ye dignity and raise mp into the very plac'
and power O. yer inheritance frae Adam
reversin the order o nature, degradin oul
noble sex and maxim laughiDstocks O a
married men.
4" I'm no sure if there's muckle practica
truth in a this, deacon" said Andrew
smiling good naturedly. "Suppose, fo
an instant that, besides the satisfaction
and pleasure derive frae nestlin safely il
the arms o my wife's Judgment. and cOurir
aneath her prOtectin wing-whilk gies me
sometimes, a flap | like as weel as he
kindest embrace-I hae discovered that be-
thoughts and reflections are a thousand
times better than the boxmaster s-wha
say ye to that, deacon | hae seen ar
oaken tree twenty four times bigger than it
parent, and yet a it ever had to thank th'
auld stock for was an acorn. Sac, in plac,
O. only bein a tWenty-fourth part, As yOr
say, o man, am satisfied / hae scarcely 1
twenty-fourth part o my wife's mind and
will Onbody tell me that a wise counsellor
should be rejected, because she happens tC
be dressed in petticoats n
" Yes, Mr.. Todd, l will tell you that, -
raplied the deacon. The private sodgel
has dootless often q mind superior TO th,
generals; but he maun still keep the rank.
Mind is naething in this affair-station il
everything. Look at Mrs. Margaret Wal
die--a cleverer cratur doesna exist-that is
in her ain way but did she ever dare t
counsel me? Did she ever presume t.
sway or alter, in the slightest degree, the
DEGREES O my judgment2 Ma; she hai
Owre muckle respect for the status anC
respectablity O her lord and master. Rous'
yersel, Andrew; tax example by me, man
act as your kind heart prompts in thi
FRIENDLY affair and join me in the bond
whereby you'll incur nae danger"
am anxious to oblige ye, deacon,
said Andrew I" but | scarcely think it wac
be a gratefu part in me to repay a. Mrs
Jean Todd's care O me for twenty years
BY t,ctin, in this affair, urOn my ain indi
vidual and responsible jud gment mich
anger her, and she micht withdraw frae m
countenance and protection micht a
weel lose the licht O. the sun. Ye dinn
understand me, deacon; ye are made t
commando to obey. Pressure brings on
the power o the spring aud a my bappi
ness j.. life Is produced and brocht out b
the weight O. the judgment and authorit
o Mrs. Jean Todd. Her very mind seem
to hae passed into mine J; and l feel, whe
Pm thinking her thoughts, a satisfaction
never feel when my ain are Passin, like IN
hidden ghaists. through my mind Bu
surely l hae some excuse is she no nobl
cratur3 How she makes body shake vi
the sound O. her voice, and the solidity Q
her thoughts and how beautifully sh