The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-05-15
No. l.
PETER, THE PUMPKIN EATER.
Peter. Peter, pun, in eaIer,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her,
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And there kept her very well.

Ana there e Kept her very well.
Mother Goose.
1t is an unfortunate thing to have ;
wife and TO be unable to keep her
There are several ways of keeping a wife
among which might be mentioned, keep
ing her happy, keeping her at home,
keeping her well provided for, keeping
her out of mischief, keeping her afioat,
IN case of steamboat accident, and
keeping her company evenings; in short
there is an indefinite number of ways for
man to keep his wife in case he is ca
pable of keeping her.
Every mrrried man should endeavor
to keep his wife happy. do not affirm
that every married man is capable of
doing this, for many men are so unfor-
tunate as to be married to women who
are incapable of being happy. Such
men are martyrs, and deserve the tender
eommiseration of the whole civilized
world. The best thing that they can do
is to keep cool and keep their wives in
good temper, if it is d possible thing for
them to do so.
The wife is the central figure of a
happy home. 1t is her influence that
creates the most perfect home happiness.
Therefore he who has a worthy wife
should use every endeavcr to keep her
happy, for upon her amiability and good
nature depend the peace and comfort
that a husband finds about his home
1reside.
Keep your wife at home, if you can,
that is if you have home for her, if
not make it your first effort TO furnish
her with a home 1t is no profit to a
woman to be running about the neigh
borhoOd she lives in, acquiring habits of
idleness and to the neglect of her do
mestic duties. One of the best ways for
a man to keep his wife at home is to stay
at home himself
Keep her well provided for; see that
the kindlings are properly split and pre-
pared for her to light the customary
morning fires, unless you are patriotic
enough to arise and perform that on
erous duty yourself; see that she has a
new calico gown, a switch, a new bon
net and a pair of gaiter boots occasion
ally, and you will find that it will pro-
duce marked change in her disposition
and demeanOr.
Keep her out of mischief, do not let
her acquire a habit of gossiping about
the various dOings of the neighbors, pro-
vide her with some pleasant occupation,
and take her to an occasional concert or
lecture
And so / might mention many other
methods of keeping a wife. A man must
use his own judgment and reason in the
matter. If he is unhappy in the various
domestic relations, let him thoughtfully
sit down and sOberly reflect upon his
situation as to the cause of his various
difficulties, disagreements and perplexi-
ties. He will find in many instances
that the fault lies in himself, either in
his neglect or innate selfishness. He can
by little tact and kindness make his
home happy and his existence thus quite
tOlerable, if only he has the mind to do
so.
Peter" was at first very unfortu-
nate man, not because he had wife
for a good wife is a real treasure-but
because of his inability to keep his better
part. Probably his first impulse was to
devOutly wish himself bachelor again.
How many melancholy male beings have
lived since Peters time that have lived
long, strangely suffered, and despairing-
ly died, wishing wishes for like freedom,
that in the course of human events was
impossible. Peter, rejecting upon his
situation, determined TO make the best
of it; he provided his wife with home.
1t was an humble habitation, pumpkin
shell, but it was better than nothing,
and we can only infer from the conclu-
sion of his brief narrative that he was
subsequently prosperous and happy.
If a man therefore does as well as he
is able. his wife should never find fault
with him because he does not do better;
she should have a proper consideration
for his worldly interests, and not endeav-
or to lead him to live beyond his means.
know of few things more worthy of
emulation than the example of model
wife, who, having her husbands in
terests truly at heart, uses her influence,
good judgment, and her own willing
hands to help him to get start in the
world The conduct of such a woman
will often do more than a mans own
to stimulate him to greater and
nobler efforts in the achievement of
worldly success and prosperity.