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Miscellany: Female Trials

Miscellany: Female Trials image
Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
July
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
Letter to the Editor
OCR Text

My heart olways "stirs within me," when I read sclcctions made by Editors of newspapers, even "Christiun Citizens," , which are designed for its married ladies, , setting forth our duty with relation to 'making home's happy to our husbands, hat we sliould always welcomc them vith a cheerful smile when they come in Vom the care and fatigues of the day, and do all wc can to make married life pleasant to them, &c." Now this is well, I accnowledge, and I trust I strive daily to reduce so good a theory to practice. But allow metoinquire il the cares and fatigues of the wifc, are always - I might say, ever appreciated by the husband1? Shall I give a short sketch of domestic ; life as it is, not of course describing a family as it should be, but I wish to give a fuir example of every day life, at home. Myncighbor, Mr. Benson, isa lawyer by "pro fession, and is what the world calis a respectable man. His income issmall, but he married a lady who wasablc .o furnish their small house, handsomely, and they have some hope of property m reversion. Mrs. B. wns cducated ín modern times, and somewhat fashionably ; so that the host of evils, which ignorant young house-keepers '%are heir to," came thick and fast upon her, when she started on the doubtful pilgrimagc of matrimonial Üfè. But sho had ñrm principies, encrgy of character, and devoted lovo lor her husband - all good slimulantsin th.e path of duíy. She bravee!, likc a heroine, all the "tea-poi tempests" which often come from clouds, not so "big as a man's hand," and in due time succeed in making a cheerful and faiihful manager of their económica! establishment. Mrs. B. has been a wife twelve years, and is a mothër of five' children, the youngest but a babe, and the family are as happy, as a large portion oi families.i I i A 4 ■ It is Monday morning, and this speaks "unuttcrable things," to a New Englund wife, who has been married a dozen years. Mr. Benson has liad his breakfast in season - lias kissed the children and gone to the office wherc the boy has a good fire - the books and papers are all in order, and Mv. B. sits down, to answer a few agrecable demands upon his time, which will eventual'y turn to cash. He goes home to his dinner punctually at one o'clock - it is ready for him - he takes it quietly, perhaps ; frolics ten minutes with the baby, and then hurries back to the oflïce. At the hour for tea, he goes home - every thing is cheerful, and to quote the simple roymc of fin old song, Thé licanh was clean, the iire was elear, The kcitle on lor ten ; Benson was in his recking chair, And biest as man could bc. But hpw lias it been with Mrs. Benson througlithe day? Shc has an UI natu red girl in the kitchen who will do half the work, onty, at nineshillings per weck. - Monday morning ! eight o'clock - four children must bc ready for school - Mrs. B. must sponge thoir faces - smooth their hair - sce that books, slates, pencils, paper, pocket-hankkerchiefs, (yes, four of them,)are all in order, and now the baby is crying - the firc is low - itis time Sally should begin to wash, the parlor, the chambers, the breakfast things are all waiting. Well! byasong to the baby, who lies kicking in the eradle - a smile to smooth ruflled Sally and with all the onergy that mind nnd body can suramon, things are "straightencd out" and the lofty pile of a week's rearing, begins to grow less, but time shortens with it - it is almost dinner time - by some accident the joint ofmeatis frozen - company calis - Mr. Benson forgotto get any eggs on Saturday - Mrs. B. must do the nextbest way - the bell rings twelve - the door opens and in rush the children from school - John has torn his pantaloons - Mary must have some money, then, to get a ncw thimble, she has just lost hers - William hascut his finger with fepieceof glass, and is calling loudly for his mother. Poor Mrs. Benson endeavors to keep cheerful and to look delighted in the hubbub ; and now the dinner by her efforts alone, is upon the tablo, her husband comes in, and perhaps, wonders the "pie is not a little better warmed," and withthis commcnt, and a smile on the baby, he is oft', till it is time for tea. I forbear to finish theday, Mr. Editor, and shall only say, the aftcrnoon is made up of little trials, too small to mention, but large enoug'a to try the faitli and patience of al) the patriarchs. Now, sir, this wife has surely borne the "burden and heart of the day," her limbs are wearied - her whole energv of mind and body exhausted, and she is exliortcd "to welcome her husband with a smile." She does it, for in woman, love is stronger than dcath. I would ask,should not Mr. Benson give his wife a sinile? Whathashe done to lighten her cares through the day? How is it? In nine cases out of ten, after sittingidle anhour, "he wishes Mrs. B. would put all those noisy children to bed - he should be glad to have her teil David to go to the Postofficc for letters and papers, and at length, when half way between slceping and waking, he looks at his palc, exhausted hclp-mcet, and exclaims, "wcll wife, you begin tolook a little fatigued." I cannot ask you, Mr. Editor, ifmy picture is nota truc ono, for you are a stranger to the joys, and cares of married life ; but I pray you, be more jusl, and now and then, exhort husbands todo their part towards making home agreeable to their wives, when ihb latter ha.ë like Atlas, borne a world of cares and vexation