National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-07-05
What Shall lie DO with Her.

The following inquiry comes to us from
writer who furnishes his name and ad
dress
" have been married several years tc
an unamiable woman, and have spent
those years very unhappily. l want you
to tell me what to do. am only twenty
seven years old, my wife older, and
feel ii doing moral wrong to live as
am. 1t is impossible to live IN the state
of mind have been in. What alterna-
tive is left me?"
II is remarkable how men fail to apply
to the MARRIAGE contract the principles
they find no difficulty in applying to all
other contracts II our 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 at "A
price below what wheat was bringing
when the purchaser called forit, or made
any other bad bargain, he would not be-
gin to talk about the impossibllity Of
doing what he had agreed TO do. But
when he finds that hls marriage has not
turned out as well as he expected it
would, he wants to back out Of his obi.
cations! Is this right? Is it honest'
There are, indeed acts on the part Of
married persons which release their part
ners from their contract with them.
What these acts are is set forth in the
laws of the several States, and though
they are not in all cases sufficient in the
view Of Il conscientious Christi N, yet, as
citizens, we are compelled to accept them
as JustifyinP n dissolution Of the mar
riage relation. We do not, however,
understand our friend rs alleging the
commission of any such acts by hs wife.
He only says that he lives unhappily with
her, and he gives no reasons for his uu-
happiness but her unamiability of TEN 1er
and greater age than his own. What
moral wrong there can be in his living as
he is living, We cannot conceive, except
it be that of his cherishing feeling of
dissatisfaction with his lot II certainly
cannot be morally wrong for him to do
what he solemnly agreed before God and
man to do, and what he is b und to do
as q Christian and an honest man.
If our friend will take our advice it is
simply this Look the situation squarely
in the face, and resolve to do your duty.
You have promised to treat your wife RS
your wife faep your promise, You will
probably 81 as many in similar creum-
stances say, Il cannot love her, and il is
useless to try to love her" Very well,
then do the 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 above all
do not show that you have hankeing
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 vou
cannot, explain to her why you cannot.
Be industrious and attentive to your
business, and conscientious III using your
for your joint welfare. In n
word, let her see that You mean well and
fairly by her, and if after all you fail to
make of her an agreeable companion,
you will at least have the approval Of
good conscience and the satisfaction of
knowing that no fault can be imputed to
you.--N. Y. SIN.