The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-08
What Shall lie Do with Her.

The following inquiry comes to us from
writer who furnishes his name and adj
dress
al have been married several years to
an unamiablc woman, aud have spent
those years very unhappily. ! want You
to tell me what to do. lam only twenty
seven years old, my wife older, and /
feel it doing n moral wrong to live MS |
am. 1t is impossible to live in the state
of mind I have been in. What Gltona-
tive is left me?"
1t is remarkable how men fail to apply
to the marriage contract the principles
they find no difficulty in applying to all
other contracts. flour unhappy married
friend had rented house and become
dissatisfied with it, or bought horse on
credit which had died before he paid for
it, or sold wheat for future delivery Mt Il
price below what wheat was bringing
when the purchaser called for it, or made
any other bad bargain, he would not be.
gin to talk about tho impossibility Of
doing what he had agreed to do. But
when he finds that his marriage has not
turned out us well as lie expected it
would, he wants to back out of his obi.
cations! Is this right? Is it honesL7
There are, indeed, acts on the part Of
married persons which release their part
ners from their contract with them.
What tEese acts are is set forth in the
laws of tho several States, and though
they arc not in all cases sufficient in the
view Of n conscientious Christinn, yet, Os
citizens, we are compelled to accept them
as justiiying dissolution Of the mar
riage relation. We do not, however,
understand our friend as alleging the
commission of any such acts by his wife,
He only says that he lives unhappily with
her, and he gives no reasons for his un-
happiness but her unamiability Of tom per
and greater age than his own. What
moral wrong there can be in his living MS
he is living, We cannot conceive, except
it be that Of his cherishing feeling Of
dissatisfaction with his lot 1t certainly
cannot be morally wrong for him to do
what he solcmnly agreed before God and
man to do, and what he is bound to do
as Christian and nm honest man.
II our friend will take our advice II is
simply this: Look the situation squarhy
in the face, and resolve to do your duty.
You have promised TO treat your wife as
your wife keep yourpromise, You will
probably say, MS many in similar circum-
stances say, z" cannot love her, and it is
useless to try to love her." Very well,
then do tho next best thing. Bear with
her infrmity OF temper, and when she
reviles you, answer her with gentle words.
Show that you are disposed to do all in
your power for her welfare, and aboycNll
do not show that you have hankctiDg
after some younger and prettier woman,
for the sake Of marrying whom You want
to get rid Of her. Comply with her
wishes whenever You can, and when you
cannot, explain to her why You cannot.
BE industrious and attentive to your
business, and conscientious in using your
earnings for your joint welfare. In u
word, let her see that you mean well and
fairly by her, and il after NIL you fail to
make Of her m agreeable companion,
you will at least have the approval Of n
good conscience and the satisfaction Of
knowing that no fault can be imputed to
you.-M Y Sm.