CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



THE WIFE'S SHARE. 



are many things that are not quite right in 

 this world, and I suppose always will be, but still 

 we are improving. Many great wrongs have been 

 righted wholly or partially. Wives are treated 

 much nearer right than they were fifty years ago, 

 but there is some chance for improvement yet in 

 many cases. Now, perhaps, you may be surprised at such a 

 statement ; you may say that you do not know of any wives that 

 are ill-treated, or, at least, only in some very rare instances. 

 Well, I do not mean that they are actually abused, or anything 

 of that kind, but that they are treated as though they were inferior 

 beings; they are " ruled over ;" there is too much of the lord 

 and master spirit in the husband. This may not be intentional, 

 but it hurts, all the same. I believe that, .usually, men have 

 grown up with the idea that man was the head, and have not 

 ever stopped to think what was simple justice in the matter. It 

 will certainly do us no harm to talk over these things a little, and 

 a book giving the substance of my writing, and preaching, and 

 practice, for many years, would not be complete without some- 

 thing on this subject. I believe that the time has come 

 when husband and wife should be full partners, equal partners, 

 in every respect. A young farmer could not do better than 

 to start out, when he was married, on a platform something like 

 this : We will suppose him speaking to his wife. " I will plow, 

 sow, reap, and do the bulk of the business, while you tend to 

 matters in the house. You make me a pleasant home, thus mak- 

 ing me stronger to battle with the world. We are full partners, 

 and I will always consult with you about my part of the business, 

 and shall expect you to do the same with me ; that is, about any 

 important particulars. Whatever we may make shall be yours 

 just as much as mine. Neither of us shall ask the other for small 

 sums of money that we may want to do as we please with, but 

 simply help ourselves out of the general fund. Any large outlays 

 we will, of course, consult together about, as partners should, 

 but we will have confidence enough in each other's judgment not 

 to ask nay questions about small amounts. The pocketbook 

 shall always be open to you, at any time, the same as to me. If 

 you take out $5, why simply enter on the cash book, * Wife, $5.' 

 I would pay you a stated amount each month to do as you please 

 with, but that is the way we do to our servants, whereas you are 

 (33) 



