scenes, to have suggested many things which may be of service to those who have recently taken upon themselves the relation of husband and wife. Throughout these essays, I shall take it for granted that those whom I address have formed what is termed " a happy connexion"-i. e., they' have married the object of their choice and love, and with proper motives have selected each other as companions for life.* Although my remarks will generally be addressed to those who have recently, or within a few years, commenced the career of wedded life, yet it is hoped they may not be inappropriate or unprofitable to the married of any age, or to the unmarried of either sex, who may anticipate the bands of wedlock at some future time. For observations and suggestions on the choice of companions, the reader is referred to "A Voice to Youth," pp. 236-279. TO HUSBANDS. CHAPTER I. ESTIMATION OF THE WIFE. "Woman! blest partner of our joys and woes! E'en in the darkest hour of earthly ill, Untarnished yet, thy fond affection glows, Throbs with each pulse, and beats with every thrill." YOUNG HUSBAND! You have now taken a partner for life. From the numerous throng around, you have selected a companion to whom you have plighted your vows of affection and constancy, and whom you have promised before Heaven to love, cherish, and protect, "until death shall part you." In the sight of God, you and your compan ion are now one; and you are so considered by the laws of all civilized nations.-Your interest, your prosperity, your enjoyment, are now intimately blended with the interest, prosperity, and enjoyment of her with whom your destiny has been united. The true happiness of husbands and wives is not derived from different and foreign sources-it rests upon one basis, one cornerstone, and that which destroys or weakens the felicity of one, must destroy or weaken the felicity of both. When travellers journey long together, their enjoyments will depend much upon the estimation in which they hold each other. If one party looks upon the other with haughtiness and contempt, as unworthy of friendship or confidence, a mutual suspicion and dislike ensue, which deprive both of that happiness which is the fruit of friendly intercourse and sociability. The same principle holds good in the matrimonial journey. Unless the husband and wife rightly estimate each other's value and the peculiarity of each other's circumstances-unless they view one another in the light dictated by reason and revelation-how can they travel in harmony?-how can they anticipate the enjoyments of peace, tranquillity, and contentment? As the liability to err in this respect lies mostly (I do not say entirely) with the husband, I have thought proper to submit a few remarks upon the "estimation of the wife." There is no better criterion by which to judge of the civilization and refinement of an age or a nation, than the estimation in which husbands hold their wives. It is one of the most striking characteristics of a barbarous people and of prevailing ignorance and sensuality, that the wife is looked upon as the property, the serf, the slave of the husband. Wherever inankind exist in the greatest ignorance and barbarity-wherever there is the greatest moral and mental darkness-there the wife is the least valued and loved as a companion-there she is despised, debased, and down |