Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-04-17
EDe age.
A MODEL WIFE.
By FEs,

IIhf lpsluiel " hlAh5p w NA'S N's''t w
iag bachelor, offered prize 10 the one whC
would write the best essay oR "WhaI eonsllr
tutes model vile aad housskeepsri" ont
Of the lady members submllted tho following
for his enlightenment'l
o Muse inspire, Wills for Brother dibbs
Paslims and profit, shall discourse on ribs
From seven years experiences Of married ilfe
ought 10 know the qualities awlfe,
10 render home sttracl.'e, should possess
Aud I confess
III not ia any way the matter slight
Hut give my views, Don't think La making
light
OF such a serious subject, Those young patrons
Can rely on what ia said by worthy malrons'
First, then, a wife should know no Other way
Than her respected lege lord to obey,
She mus, not even hint Of womans right
TO vote OF lecture attain that height
10 solely maas perogatiye, but she
Ia uau( ht but LOusewoTk his superior should DO
Hse that i.s meals are served 10 suit hs taste
Epn though her intellect should ruR to waste
Young says "is il not enough plaques, wars
aud fsmines rise,
10 yeI our lives, but must our wives DO
wise I"
Another says The sweetest thing 10 life
Ia tho uaelouded welcome OF WIFE,
Her care DO il, then, his s0rrows TO begulle'
And always meet her husband with smile
Aud appropOs OF this, heard, one day.
OF wife who tled this very pleasant way
Her lord came in 10 dinner cross aud ilred
She met him With smile almost inspired
lilo looked alarmed Got the ioolhaehe again.
hey -
ooh, 80, my tooth Ia comfortable to'da'i"
she smiled agsihi said he Ohio precious louDi
"old woman, before We so any further want
to know what you're gFnnIng about =
A wife should stay at home aud never pou''
Because like men, she cannot cad about
Her sphere IL homo domestic, good andpure'
She, like q snail should keep within hor door,
But not, like tho slow snail IN silver track
Place all her dainty wardrobe ON her back
She must not follow iashion's changeiul whim,
But dress with modest taste al Ploasea him.
Novels she should not read but all such books
A qualify wives TO DO superior cooks
Should studied be. And never lot her dip
In politics II she tho papers reef, must SKIP
All but domestic recipes or she'd invent
Some way TO have female president,
Che should know how to make cup OF tea
And cook an ogg to an extreme nicely,
80 abs to do all kinds OF work,
hut never from tho household drudgcry shirk
Besides all this, II perfection she would be,
Must drive the toam, and learn to haw andg gee
And hold the pillow, and, when the horses get
tired,
Ucrscli the harness wear then she'll DO adj
mired.
That's what the mon require, aud not wit
Nor beauty.
They simply want wife to do her duty,
She never must refuse to milk the COW
These were required in all those solemn VOWS
sho took upon her on her marriage day
For recreation, eho can weep or pray
Or take load Of grist to mill,
Or carry to he pigs their pals of swill'
Sho must not DO 80 inconsideratc AZ TO fail
In health or die. thinking hell bewal
Her LOGS. He'll dye his faded hair
And brush his clothes with tho EXTREMIST care
And look about for model No.2.
Young patrons, yet another word to You
And have done. Whenever you decide
TO take for better or Tor worse bride,
Don't always make your visits in the evo,
When she is dressed her lover to receive,
But call upon her on some washing day;
Then you can tell il marrying will pay.
Sec II she 10 careful not to slop the suds,
And notice. too, il she can lit the tubs
Without calling the men folks to hor aid.
For all this trouble you II be amply paid,
If by it you secure for life,
A strong, industrious, model wife.