St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-07-05
THE "oBED1ENch" or A WIFE.

wise, in reference to the obedience
which a wife vows to yield to her
husband. Brides boast that they
have evaded the word "obey' and
substituted "go gay, SAY nay or
some other OF similar sound. After
her wedding lady OF this kind re-
marked to Rev. +. d. Maurice, who
had performed the ceremony, Now
Mr.. Maurice, ! call you to witness
that | entertain nointentiOn OF obey
ing" Maurice answered with his
sad, sweet smile, "Ah, madam, you
little know the blessedness OF obed.
fence.
What do those who are now so
opposed to wiiely obedience say to
the following true incident Sir
Charles and Lady Napier were riding
one evening, unattended, on the sum
nit of a range of hills in India. The
sun had just set, the pathway was
narrow, bordered on one side by jun
gle, and on the other by deep prec-
ipice. Turning to his wife rather
suddenly, but yet quietly, Sir Charles
desired her to ride on at full speed to
the nearest village, and send some
people back to the spot where she
had left him, and he furthermore bade
her not to ask him the reason why he
sent her she obeyed in silence. Yet
it was no slight trial OF her courage,
as well as her obedience, for the way
was lonely and beset with many pos
sible peris; but she rode boldly and
rapidly forward, and gained village
a few miles distant in safety. The
p lrty whom she then dispatched and
accompanied met Sir Charles, who
then explained the reason OF his
strange, peremptory command. lie
had seen, as ne and his wife slowly
walked their horses, first a pair Of
fiery eyes CLEAN at them from the
Jungle, and then the head OF large
tiger, He was sure if they both rode
on that the terrible beast would give
chase, and he feared if Lady Napier
knew the dreadful peril at hand that
she might be so startled as to be un-
able to make an effort to escape. This
was why he sent her on and remained
himself, though he had only pair OF
pistols, confronting and controlling
the tiger with the steady, unfllnching
glance of his eagle eye, until, after
short gaze and low growl, the beast
turned back into the jungle.
OF course, no one worthy of atten-
ton believes that it is wile's duty
to obey when her husband wishes her
to act contrary to the dictates of con-
science AS little is she expected to
conform to a standard of obedience
and service such as was laid down in
a conversation overheard between
two children who were playing on
the sands together. Small boy to
little girl: DO you wish to be my
wite?" Little girl, after reflection.
YES" Small boy: Then pull off my
boots"
On great many points, however,
concerning the pecuniary or other
interests of the family, the husband
will usually be the wiser, and may
most properly be treated as the senior
partner in the firm. A woman may
like to have her own way, but she has
little respect for the husband who
gives in to her in everything. The
ideal wife claims the liberty of being
herself and of managing her house,
but she never refuses loyalty to an
affection which supports and protects
her. Despotism and obedience are
indeed terms that have no meaning
in a matrimonial alliance OF the right
sort.
The word "obey" had not as great
terrors for our queen when she was
going to be married as it has tor the
new woman" among her subjects.
When arranging about the service
the Archbishop of Canterbury asked
Her Majesty whether it would be
desirable to omit the word "obey,"
and she answered, II wish to be mar
ried as woman, not as Queen. y
Some of Her Majesty's subjects are
not as suhj,c as she was in this
respect. They do desire to exercise
sovereignty over their husbands, and
do not prefer to reign through service,
At negro wedding, when the clergy
mau read the words love, honor and
obey the bridegroom interrupted
him and said, Read that again, sab!
read it once mo-, SOS de lady kin
katch de full solennity of de meaning
Use been married beio'." Another
man who had been married before
three or four times Git does not mat
ter which, except to himselD said
MY first wife cured me of romance
my second taught me humility anC
my third made me philosopher.
None of these wives could have caught
the iull solemnity OF the vows they
took when they were being married
The vexed question of conjuga
obedience was settled by Sturgeon il
a characteristic way. In an address
at the marriage of the daughter OF ;
friend, he spoke thus to the brid
about her future lord: Let him b
the head, and do you be the neck, ant
turn him which way you plea "
The Rev. E. J. Hardy, in the Londo
Queen.
ALL SORTS.
Cure for Sick Headache.