Chapter III - Marriage
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existence by constant intercourse with those adapted to
existence by constant intercourse with those adapted to
elevate it, should be the motive of society. Unity of
spirit gives new pinions to joy, or else joy's drooping
wings trail in dust.
Chord and discord
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Ill-arranged notes produce discord. Tones of the
Ill-arranged notes produce discord. Tones of the
human mind may be different, but they should be con-
cordant in order to blend properly. Unselfish
ambition, noble life-motives, and purity, –
these constituents of thought, mingling, constitute in-
dividually and collectively true happiness, strength, and
permanence.
Mutual freedom
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There is moral freedom in Soul. Never contract the
There is moral freedom in Soul. Never contract the
horizon of a worthy outlook by the selfish exaction of
all another's time and thoughts. With ad-
ditional joys, benevolence should grow more
diffusive. The narrowness and jealousy, which would
confine a wife or a husband forever within four walls, will
not promote the sweet interchange of confidence and love;
but on the other hand, a wandering desire for incessant
amusement outside the home circle is a poor augury for
the happiness of wedlock. Home is the dearest spot on
earth, and it should be the centre, though not the bound-
ary, of the affections.
A useful suggestion
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Said the peasant bride to her lover: "Two eat no more
Said the peasant bride to her lover: "Two eat no more
together than they eat separately." This is a hint that
a wife ought not to court vulgar extravagance
or stupid ease, because another supplies her
wants. Wealth may obviate the necessity for toil or the
chance for ill-nature in the marriage relation, but noth-
ing can abolish the cares of marriage.
Differing duties
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"She that is married careth . . . how she may please
"She that is married careth . . . how she may please
her husband," says the Bible; and this is the pleasantest
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thing to do. Matrimony should never be entered into
thing to do. Matrimony should never be entered into
without a full recognition of its enduring obligations on
both sides. There should be the most tender
solicitude for each other's happiness, and mu-
tual attention and approbation should wait on all the years
of married life.
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Mutual compromises will often maintain a compact
Mutual compromises will often maintain a compact
which might otherwise become unbearable. Man should
not be required to participate in all the annoyances and
cares of domestic economy, nor should woman be ex-
pected to understand political economy. Fulfilling the
different demands of their united spheres, their sympa-
thies should blend in sweet confidence and cheer, each
partner sustaining the other, – thus hallowing the union
of interests and affections, in which the heart finds peace
and home.
Trysting renewed
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Tender words and unselfish care in what promotes the
Tender words and unselfish care in what promotes the
welfare and happiness of your wife will prove more salutary
in prolonging her health and smiles than stolid
indifference or jealousy. Husbands, hear this
and remember how slight a word or deed may renew the
old trysting-times.
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After marriage, it is too late to grumble over incompati-
After marriage, it is too late to grumble over incompati-
bility of disposition. A mutual understanding should
exist before this union and continue ever after, for decep-
tion is fatal to happiness.
Permanent obligation
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The nuptial vow should never be annulled, so long as
The nuptial vow should never be annulled, so long as
its moral obligations are kept intact; but the frequency
of divorce shows that the sacredness of this re-
lationship is losing its influence, and that fatal
mistakes are undermining its foundations. Separation
never should take place, and it never would, if both