PRACTICAL MORALITY. 



.arriages, is frequently productive of many gross 

 vices, tending to the injury both of individuals and 

 of society. Celibacy, especially when circum- 

 stances would permit marriage, is not respectable ; 

 it is considered akin to vagrancy. He who 

 marries and settles down as a householder, meets 

 with the approbation of the world. Why is this ? 

 it may be asked. Because in marrying we give 

 a guarantee to society for our good behaviour. It 

 is not to be doubted that a young, well-educated, 

 industrious couple, who are sincerely and affection- 

 ately attached, on a sober examination and con- 

 viction of each other's worth and suitability to 

 each other, may be happy with means far short of 

 the fashionable standard. Presuming that such a 

 couple are wise enough to take life for the real and 

 substantial good that it can produce and as a 

 whole, it would do them great injustice to suppose 

 that they could not find that good in a small, 

 simple, cheerful, tranquil mansion it would be 

 doing the friends of such a couple the like injustice 

 to suppose that they could not visit them, and be 

 satisfied to see them happy through such means. 

 According to the usages of society, it is the cus- 

 tom for the man to propose marriage, and for the 

 woman to refuse or accept the offer. There ought 

 to be a perfect freedom of the will in both parties. 

 To impose any species of constraint on either party 

 is most mischievous ; it would be a gross violation 

 of our most sacred privileges. Both parties, there- 

 fore, ought freely to think for themselves, however 

 much they may seek the advice of those who are 

 inclined to afford them counsel. Young women 

 ought, however, to be in no haste to accept a lover. 

 Let them know him a sufficient time to judge of his 

 qualities of mind, temper, habits, &c. before they 

 allow themselves to be inveigled into a marriage 

 with him. Far better for them to remain single, 

 than heedlessly incur the risk of being miserable 

 during the remainder of their lives. The same 

 observations are equally applicable to the other 

 sex. At the same time we would observe that 

 young women should not consider it a serious 

 misfortune even if never married : there is nothing 

 disreputable, while there may be much happiness, 

 in the condition of an old maid. 



Husband and Wife. 



The married state finds both husband and wife 

 intrusted with the fulfilment of numerous special 

 duties to each other. The husband, for instance, 

 is expected to regard his wife as his equal ; to 

 treat her with kindness, respect, and attention ; 

 never addressing her with an air of authority, as if 

 she were, as some misguided husbands appear to 

 regard their wives, a mere housekeeper. He 

 should never interfere in her domestic concerns, 

 such as hiring servants and the like. He should 

 always keep her properly supplied with money, 

 according to his means, for domestic expenditure. 

 The most wasteful wives are those who find them- 

 selves the least trusted. If she have prudence 

 and good sense, she should be consulted in all 

 affairs involving the risk of serious injury in case 

 of failure. Many a man has been rescued from 

 ruin by the wise counsels of his wife ; and many a 

 foolish husband has most seriously injured himself 

 and family by the rejection of the advice of his 

 wife, stupidly fearing, if he followed it, he would 

 be regarded as henpecked ! A husband can surely 

 never consult a counsellor more deeply interested 



in his welfare than his wife. If distressed or em- 

 barrassed in his circumstances, he should com- 

 municate his situation to her with candour, that 

 she may bear his difficulties in mind in her expend- 

 iture. In fact, a husband should learn to trust 

 his wife in all things, and to treat her with con- 

 sideration and courtesy, both in public and private. 

 In like manner, the wife should learn to study 

 the interests and feelings of her husband. She 

 should always receive him with a cheerful coun- 

 tenance, leaving nothing undone to make home 

 agreeable and attractive, and in everything reason- 

 able complying with his wishes with cheerfulness 

 and promptitude even, as far as possible, antici- 

 pating them. She should never attempt to rule, 

 or appear to rule, her husband. Such conduct 

 degrades husbands and wives cannot do other- 

 wise than partake largely in the degradation of 

 their husbands. She should avoid all altercations 

 or arguments leading to ill-humour, especially 

 before company; neither should she attempt to 

 interfere in his business, unless he asks for advice 

 or counsel. She should avoid confiding to gossips 

 any of the failings or imperfections of her hus- 

 band ; and regard nothing as light or trifling that 

 may produce even a momentary breach of do- 

 mestic harmony. She should be economical with- 

 out being parsimonious, and always remember, if 

 her husband be in business, the trying vicissitudes 

 to which trade and commerce are subject, and 

 that a time may arrive when she may feel the 

 want of the money imprudently spent by her. 

 Above all, she should try to cultivate her mind, so 

 that, should her husband be intelligent and well 

 informed, she may join in rational conversation 

 with him and his friends. The whole secret of 

 domestic happiness is comprised hi the pithy* 

 maxim, 'Bear and Forbear.' Should differences 

 arise between husband and wife, the contest ought 

 not to be, as it unfortunately too frequently is, 

 who shall display the most spirit, but who shall 

 make the first advances, which ought to be met 

 more than half-way. There is scarcely a more 

 prolific source of unhappiness in the married state 

 than this spirit, the legitimate offspring of odious 

 pride and destitution of feeling. 



Parents and Children. 



The marriage state is the foundation of one 

 of the most sacred and important institutions in 

 society that of a family. A family is a little 

 commonwealth, jointly governed by the parents, 

 but under the more special guardianship and 

 direction of the husband and father, who is morally 

 and legally the head of the house. To the father 

 the children naturally look for protection, sub- 

 sistence, advice, example, and encouragement 

 The father, therefore, has a serious obligation to 

 perform in the proper rearing of his children. He 

 is bound to educate them according to his means, 

 to support them till they are able to depend on 

 themselves, and to have them taught a business, or 

 put in some other fair way of gaining an honest live- 

 lihood. It is also incumbent upon parents to avoid 

 all unseemly partialities towards the different 

 members of their family. Such partial treatment 

 has a natural tendency to engender strife and 

 animosity among the children themselves. The 

 pet of the parents will seldom prove the favourite 

 of those members of the family who have been un- 

 justly neglected ; and who will therefore naturally 



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