The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-04-27
why Woman Weds.

proportion he assigns TO the right mo-
tive for marrying, but we are sure that
all the other motives he mentions are
more or less influential. He says:
Number one has married for home.
She got tired of working in a factory. or
teaching school, or making dresses, and
she thought married life was nothing on
earth but moonlight walks, buggy rides
new bonnets, and nothing TO do! Well,
she has got her home; whether or no
she is tired of the accompanying incum-
brances, this dcponcnt does not posi-
lively know.
Number two married because she had
seven younger sisters, and papa with
narrow income. She consulted the
interests of her family Perhaps she
would better have consulted her own
interest by taking in light washing. or
| going out by the day to work.
Number three married because Mrs.
sounded so much better than Miss. She
was twenty-nine years and eleven
months old, and another month would
have transmitted her into a regular old
maid. Think how awful that would
have been!
Number four married because she
wanted somebody to pay her bills. Her
husband married for precisely the same
reason, so they are both Of them repent
ing at leisure.
Number five married because Fanny
White had nice new husband, and she
wasn't going TO be left behind Pity il
she couldn't get married aS well as 9th
cr folks!
| Number six married because she was
poor, and wanted riches. Poor child
She never counted on all the other thing;
that were inseparable from those covet
ed riches
Number seven married because sh,
thought she should like to travel. Blu
Mr.. Number Seven changed his mint
afterward, and all the travelling she hai
done has been between the well anC
back-kitchen door.
Number eight married out of spite
because her first love had taken to him
self second love. This piece of retail
alton might have done her good at ont
time, but in the long run, number cigh
found il did not pay.
Number nine married because sh'
had read novels and wanted sympa
thy" Sympathy is fine thing, but i
cools down at rapid rate if the domes
tic kettle is not kept boiling, and tn,
domestic turkey is under-done. Novel
and housekeeping don't run well to
gether in harness, to use Il sporting
phrase, and number ninc's supply o
sympathy don't hold ont very long.
Number ten married because sh,
loved her husband with all her hear
and with all her soul. And she love
him still, and will probably always con
tinue to love him, and is the happies
wife in the world-so she says.
We have the right motive at last
one which, when sanctified by desir
and a resolution to improve and elevat
each other, and to live true and hol
lives before God, cannot fail TO cal
down the blessings of heaven. But sal
is the fate of those who marry froi
wrong motivcs-to escape their share O
liie's work, or TO get something TO
| which they have nothing TO give in r6
turn.
Prominent among the wrong motive
for marrying is the desire for wealth. q
for the Injuries, the privileges, and III
ease which wealth is supposed to insure
Wealth is a good thing in itself, ant
when rightly nscd, may be made
Sotltt vi W llN IpN-tNSol All
of great benefit to the world at large
but as the leading motive for forming
matrimonial alliance, ii almost alway
proves a snare and a curse: and thos
who succeed in making a pecuniarl
good MATCH" generally get misery {
well as money-more of the former tina
of the latter-and learn, too late, til,
cupidity is more dangerous foe
peace of mind than even Cupid himsel
Solon abolished the giving of portion
> with young women in marriage, unles
they were only daughters, for he woul
not have matrimony become traffic
and when one asked Thcmistocles whi
he thought about marrying a perso
without fortune, he replied that /
would rather marry his daughter TO
man without an estate, than TO an esta
without a man. Must we not adm
that these pagans of ancient Gree,
were wiser than many so-called Chri
;. tian parent, who is ready to sacrifi,
his daughter on the altar of Mammol
! and who gives little thought TO the ma
ii provided the estate be secured? II hi
& been satirically said that
Maidens, like moths. are ever caught with glare
And Mammon wins his way, where seraphs mig
despair.
But though woman, under the preset
system ofunjust discrimination betwet
her and man in the distribution of Il
rewards of industry, is more frequent
necessitous, as well as less qualified
struggle with adversely, and more co
fiding in her nature, and therefore, IL
der stronger temptations to accept mo
ey in place of a heart, yet the strong
s sex is scarcely less addicted to merce
AIRY designs in marriage.
Fortune-hunting is not confined
one sex, but ii is pursued with equ
zest by both, each eager for "go,
match"- in other words, good la
gain. But is it good bargain, aft
all? You may have obtained II lar
pile of gold, but is it an adequate pri
for free-born spirit-for life of To-
and happiness resigned, and made fc
ever impossible? Mrs. Childs says;
never knew a marriage for money III
did not end unhappily. Yet managil
mothers and heartless daughters a
constantly playing the same unlucl
=, game. | believe that men more Fl
W. quently marry for love than wome
because women think they shall nev
have better chance, and dread TO
r. dependent. If I may Judge by my oy
IL observation, marrying for home /,
L most tiresome way Of fgetting livin
Prudence will dictate that maria
,er should not taks place till there shall
an reasonable prospect of a comfortal
ri support; but this is not so difficult
raj attain as many suppose, and, as ru
n, need not long delay the happy consul
az nation, where industry and econor
for are melted to activity by true love, a
on sustained by the hope of future hap
me home"
~,
ed