Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-07-08

"-N~N~'-I
for position, one from whom the sou
turns with instructive aversion. Cal
we wonder that 50 many are unhappy
But eight hundred dollars, Fanny
How is it possible for a married coup
le to live in any decent style, in this
city, on eight hundred dollars a year.
They may live in a comfortable
style, if the wife is willing to perform
her part.
What do you mean by her part
Fanny
we will take it for granted thai
she is no better than her hus band
That having brought him no fortune
beyond her own dear self, she cannot
claim superior privileges
Well?
lie has to work through all the
day.
Well?'
"Uuder what equitable rule is she
exempt?
None. She must do her part, OF
course, if there is anything to do with
She must keep his house, if he can af,
ford a house. But if he raises only
eight hundred dollars year Why
rent alone would consume half, OF
more than half of that. There would
be 20 housekeeping IN the case. They
mus. board.
And the wife sit in illeness all the
day long.
She would have nothing to do.
Could she not teach? or by aid Of
sewing machine, earn few dollars
every week? or engage in some othe
useful work that would yield an in
come, and SO do her part.
'Yes.she might do something Of The
kind but f marriage is to make work
ers Of us, it were better to remain sin
gle.
And live in unwomanly depen-
u dence on our parents and relatives
No, Alice; there is a false sontlmcn'
prevailing on this subject, and as |
think and talk, see it more and
more clearly. Our parents have been
weak in their love for US, and society
as constituted, has given us wrong
estimates of things. We should hav,
cen required 10 do useful work II
the household, from the beginning
and should have been taught, tha
illeness and setinlulgence were
discrc,titable. Our brothers are pu
to trades and professions, and made
to comprehend, from the begnnln:
that industry is honorable. aud tha
the way Of useful work is the way b!
which the worlds brightest place
are to be reached. But we are raise
laintjly and uselessly and so fitted
for our duties as wives and mothers
Our pride and self esteem are foster
ed, and We come to think of ourselve
, as future queens, who are to be min
!, istered to in all things, instead Of be
! ing ministrant, in loving selt-lcrgettul
ness, to others. No wonder that al
anti marriage sentiment is beginning
to prevail amongst young men 0
. moderate incomes in all our large
cities. The fault is in us, Alice. Th,
sin lies at our door. We demand too
5 much in this co partnership. We ar
not willing to do our share Of th'
work. Our husband must bear all 0
t the burdens.
Alice sighed heavily. Her frien(
continued.
i have read somewhere that the de
| light Of heaven is the delight Of being
useful. And it seems to me as dwell
upon the thought, that the neares
approach to heavenly delight here
must be that state into which a wife
comes when she stands by her hus
band s side and out of love for him
removes ono burden and another from,
his shoulders, and SO lightens his
work that smiles take the place oi
WEAKNESS and the shadowngs Of care
If rich she can hardly have so great 4
privilege; but if they are alike poor
and know how to moderate their de.
sires, their home may become an
image Of paradise. Eight hundred
dollars! Alice. if you were really
fitted to become lIarry's wife, you
might live with him, doing your part,
happier th IN any queen.