The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The first maxim which you should impress deeply upon your mind, is,
never to attempt to control your husband by opposition, by displeasure,
or any other mark of anger. A man of sense, of prudence, of warm
feelings, cannot, and will not, bear an opposition of any kind, which
is attended with an angry look or expression. The current of his
affections is suddenly stopped; his attachment is weakened; he begins
to feel a mortification the most pungent; he is belittled even in his
own eyes; and be assured, the wife who once excites those sentiments in
the breast of a husband, will never regain the high ground which she
might and ought to have retained. When he marries her, if he be a good
man, he expects from her smiles, not frowns; he expects to find in her
one who is not to control him--not to take from him the freedom of
acting as his own judgment shall direct, but one who will place such
confidence in him, as to believe that his prudence is his best guide.
Little things, what in reality are mere trifles in themselves, often
produce bickerings, and even quarrels. Never permit them to be a
subject of dispute; yield them with pleasure, with a smile of
affection. Be assured that one difference outweighs them all a
thousand, or ten thousand times. A difference with your husband ought
to be considered as the greatest calamity--as one that is to be most
studiously guarded against; it is a demon which must never be permitted
to enter a habitation where all should be peace, unimpaired confidence,
and heartfelt affection. Besides, what can a woman gain by her
opposition or her differences? Nothing. But she loses every thing; she
loses her husband's respect for her virtues, she loses his love, and
with that, all prospect of future happiness. She creates her own
misery, and then utters idle and silly complaints, but utters them in
vain. The love of a husband can be retained only by the high opinion
which he entertains of his wife's goodness of heart, of her amiable
disposition, of the sweetness of her temper, of her prudence, and of
her devotion to him. Let nothing upon any occasion, ever lessen that
opinion. On the contrary, it should augment every day: he should have
much more reason to admire her for those excellent qualities, which
will cast a lustre over a virtuous woman, when her personal attractions
are no more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account