Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-18
hold their own goods for high prices; they
have no right to exclude those supplying the
same articles, from the market.
Unhappy Marriages.

How many? Why so many? What is
the remedy? Ask the courts how many pc
titions for divorces, and add to this number
host who, for various reasons, are simply
enduring the marriage bond rather than ask
divorce, and the first question will be ap-
proximately answered. They are legion.
And yet God appointed the marriage rela-
ton and designed it for the veal and happi-
ness of mankind. ''It is not good that the
man should be alone'' 1.-Two are better
than ONE
The remedy for unhappy marriages, SO far
as remedy is possible, will always appear ID
discovering the causes of the unhappiness.
Our second question will answer the third.
Now md then marriage obtains between
parties wholly unfit for each other. They
do not blend, have nothing in common, are
without mutual sympathies, and even the
grace of God cannot make them happy to-
gether. They can perform their respective
duties after sort, in a kind of iceberg spirit.
Thev need not :. scratch and bite;' if they
will try they can keep the peace - but
having no afinities they cannot love and be
happy. Such persons can only s. make the
best of it, We think there are not many
SO unhappily married.
But many are unhappy because they for
get there would be places where each might
fail, and each might need sustaining No
previous acquaintance can discover to parties
the characters of each other SO fully as few
months Unmarried life in home of their own.
tneeds TO be taken for granted always, that
each will discover in the other some things not
quite pc feet and not quite as could be de
sired.
Then comes the question of conforming to
and accepting the imperfections ofeach other
or of pruning al d correcting the defects. And
the pruning hand cannot be guided by too
much wisdom or do its delicate work too
lovingly. - A soft answer turneth away
wrath" and likewise it is the loving hand
that works safely among the teudrils of the
heart Neither party should expect to bring
the other up to an ideal standard; some de-
tects (?) will remain through life. The spirit
of patience and forbearance should be cher
ished by remembering that defects are on
both sides. The early and pure love should
be cherished by persistently dwelling upon
the excellences of the other. And 1t IS
sensible idea to offset the unexpected imper-
iections with the unexpected excellences. In
all honest marriages each party will be found
possessing some unexpected good traits or
abilities.
If parties will hate. they can always find
enough to hate in their human companions;
and if they would love, they can always find
lovable traits and ways in each other. Peo-
PIE can try to love each other, and the mar
rled should try. Aud unless they try, they
will be likely to fnd themselves at cross pur-
poses, and suffering cross feelings, and IN
dulymg in cross WORDS.
One most fruitful occasion OF unhapplness
in married life lies in the neglect or failure
Of the parties to unite in a common life pur-
pose. Two or different life purposes can
not prosper IN the same family at the same
time. However diverse their views and OBJ
iects OF life hitherto at the marriage altar
the parties absolutely need to become one in
purpose. Ii the husband is intent upon pro-
ftssional success, and the wife eees her ideal
existence - in society :" if one is absorbed
in accumulatiny wealth and the other cares
only to 'enjoy lie;" if one desires the song
and prattle of children and the other has no
patience with children ; if one is a mission
airy and the other is a miser In spirit and
plan of lite, 1t is plain to any observer that
discard if not divorce will obtain, unless there
be a coming together in respect to the object
aud work ollie. The yoke that is not kept
even will caafe and gall.
Il is useless to pull IN different directions.
Perhaps each should concede somewhat TO
the other, but in the nature of the case one
must Weld the more. And We hesitate not
to say in the hearing of all good women, that
every woman whose husband is worthy of
her love should make his e-work her life
work. This does not preclude her from
counseling with and advising him. 1t does
not preclude the realization of all her ambi-
ton, if that ambition be worthy Of woman.
la helping him much she helps herself more.
The wife will fad her reckoning IN consent
Ing and choosing to shine in the light of her
husband and not her own radiance.
This will require personal sacrifice. Espe-
cially 10 the earlier years Of mechanics, or
merchants, or professional mans career, his
wife must endure much self-denial and hard
ships if she would see him successful man.
Marriage is just about what parties make
it. 1t is the worst slavery or the purest lber-
ty.