HOUSEWIFE S DEPARTMENT. 



607 



HOUSEWIFE'S DEPARTMENT. 



The more any man of any discernment sees of 

 the world, and reHects on the relations subsisting 

 between and the offices performed by the vari- 

 ous members that constitute one family, (and with 

 families make up society) ; the more deeply will 

 he be impressed with the dignity and import- 

 ance of the duties which social arrangements as- 

 sign to the mistress of every well regulated 

 household ; and the high honor and esteem to 

 which she is entitled when these duties are well 

 executed. 



Let but her part be neglected, or carelessly or 

 ill performed, and chaos soon takes the place of 

 order, neatness and economy take their depart- 

 ure, and domestic misery and ruin are too sure 

 to enter, close on the heels of pride and indo- 

 lence. There is nothing more beautiful, nothing 

 to which a .sensible man more readily pays the 

 homage of his admiration and resp£ct, on his en- 

 trance in the domestic circle of the old Southern 

 Slates, than the cheerfulness and alacrity with 

 which he still sees the ladies there, both mother 

 and daughters, of the most opulent, and best bred 

 families, play out in full measure, their appropri- 

 ate parts in the management of domestic affairs, 

 and when occasion demand.?, even of the out- 

 door concerns. To be familiar w-ith all the du- 

 ties of housewifery, seems to form, in fact, as we 

 have lately witnessed with high gratification, a 

 part of the education of young ladies of the am- 

 plest fortune, the most refined manners and the 

 highest intellectual cultivation. And where, it 

 may well be asked, can beauty and intelligence 

 be seen to more advantage, than in the exercise 

 of duties which do and ought to constitute a 

 great portion of the employment, sometimes of 

 daughters on whom the loss of a mother may de- 

 volve the care of a household, and especially of 

 every married woman who would see her hus- 

 band prosperous, respected and happy? All who 

 are at all familiar with the history of rural life 

 in the old " plantation States," must know of in- 

 stances of remarkable women, who, with an en- 

 ergy of character almost beyond their sex, have 

 grappled with adversity brought on by the indo- 

 lence, extravagance, or misfortune of their hu.s- 

 bands: and while clearing their estates of the 

 most frightful embarrassments, have contrived 

 to educate their families, and finally to leave 

 them in the enjoyment of their wonted respect- 

 ability and independence. Forever honored be 

 the memories of such noble women ! Too much 

 gratified should we be to preserve in the Hou.se- 

 wife'e Department of the Farmers' LiERARYtbe 

 (1267) 



fullest memorials of such as thus do honor to 

 their sex and their country ; and may we not ap- 

 peal to the gallantry and justice of readers who 

 can appreciate our views, to aid us in preserving 

 suitable memorials of those whose lives allbrd to 

 society, examples so useful ? 



While military heroes of all degrees, and not 

 a few of doubtful merit, swing in their gorgeous 

 trappings on every tavern sign ; while partisans, 

 floating for the moment on the top of the tide, 

 emblazon the front of political reviews, and 

 while our popular and fashionable magazines 

 glare with costly pictures of noble dames in 

 courtly attire, or with the meretricious repre- 

 .sentations of fashionable artistes, dancing half 

 naked in " mid air;" all \vc\\ calculated to beget 

 ideas and inclinations the most vitiating and ef- 

 feminate ; where do we find the portrait or 

 biographical sketch of the noble matron, in the 

 midst of her homely avocations, laying " her 

 hands on the spindle or the distaff," counting her 

 poultry, inspecting her dairy, or teaching her 

 children ? and yet, to saying nothing of the pre- 

 sent, how many illustrations might be drawn 

 from old family annals, of women of the finest 

 character who without seeking it. won distinction 

 by thus looking after the*" ways of their house- 

 hold." 



Not on their own accounts should the memories 

 of such women be honored, for they are gone be- 

 yond the reach of praise — who cannot call to 

 mind some who have been called away in the 

 midst of their usefulness and at the very moment 

 when they were most dear and most necessary 

 to those who remain to deplore their loss ? 

 " Why is it thus that fairest things. 



The soonest fleet and die ? 

 That when mo.'it light is on their wings 

 They're then but spread to fly 1 



And, sadder still, the pain will stay 



TTie bliss no more appears ; 

 As rainbows take their light away. 



And leave us but their tears." 



No ! no ! It were for no gnch vain purpose 

 that we would commemorate the virtues of such 

 women ! but to give assurance to our daughters, 

 to those who are to be the future mothers of the 

 Republic ; that for them as well as for our sons, 

 honor shall be the reward of excellence, and 

 their virtues too be gratefully recorded. 



That posthumous honors should be reserved 

 for our sex alone, or living ones be lavi.shcd ex- 

 clusively on womcnofhigh rank, or on tho.sewho 

 can make the most impressive public display of 

 courtly and fashionable costunae, or mere pbysi- 



