THE YOUNG WIFE.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Objects of marriage. Duties of a wife. Her importance as an educator. Why.

THE objects of the marriage institution may all be comprised under two general heads. First, the education of the parties concerned; second, the education of those committed to their care. It will be obvious, however, that the word education, thus used, includes much more than mere instruction in knowledge. The term is used in its largest sense, as implying and including everything which forms character for this world or the world to

come.

If the view I have here taken of the intention of marriage be correct-and I think it will be found to accord both with reason and revelationthen we see, at once, what is the leading duty

of the young wife, considered merely as such, and what are the ends which she should propose. She is to be, in one word, "a help-meet" to her husband. She is to assist him-cooperate with him in the work of self-education. The education of others, however important a duty of the married life it may ultimately become, belongs to the Young Mother rather than to the Young Wife, and will therefore only be made an incidental or occasional subject of discussion in the present volume.

Every day educates us for every day which follows it, and indeed for every subsequent period of our existence, because all the various events, and circumstances, and employments of each day contribute to form the future character. Just in proportion, then, as the wife can modify or control these circumstances, events and employments in her family, just in the same proportion is she an educator of her husband. This education may, indeed, be either good or bad, according to the spirit and manner in which it is conducted; but educate at some rate or other, the wife always must, in all she says or does in the presence of others I had almost said, in all she thinks and feels. She is moreover the most efficient of all the educators of her husband, because her influence is so constant. It also happens that in no way can

she so rapidly promote her own improvement, as in promoting that of her husband; since the light and influence which she sheds on him is necessarily reflected upon herself.

These remarks apply with most force, it is true, to the young wife, as my title would indicate. But they are also applicable, in no small degree, to those who are more advanced in years. The power of persons, places, events and circumstances, to form or reform human character, is in exactly an inverse proportion, other things being equal, to our

age.

The younger the parties are, when they enter into wedlock, the more they can do, mutually, in the great work of self-improvement. But something can be done, as long as life lasts. There is no age at which the work of human education ceases. Character is forming for the great future, till we pass the bounds of time and space, and enter a world where retribution predominates rather than trial-a world where character remains fixeda world of universal and never ending manhood.

Let it not be hastily supposed that I expect the wife to do much by means of set lessons, or in any of the more direct forms of what is commonly called education; though she is not to remain wholly inefficient, even in this respect, as will be seen in another place. But it is by conduct and example that she is to effect most, in the education

of her husband. It is by indirect means-silent, gentle, and often unperceived, but always operative. The growth of the vegetable world is not so much effected by the bright meridian glare of heaven's resplendent luminary, and by the violent rain and the tempest, as by the milder light of morning and evening, the gentler breezes, the soft descending showers, and the still more softly distilling dew. In like manner is it the province of woman to accomplish most for human advancement, and above all in her own family, by indirect if not by silent efforts. She is to teach, at least in no small degree, as though she taught not. She is to perform the duties of her office, not like the king of day, but rather like the paler empress of night, in so unperceived a manner as to leave it doubtful whether she has any influence or not, except by the general law of attraction.

Having thus stated, as briefly as possible, some of the principles which form the basis of this work, I proceed to consider, in a series of chapters, the various means by which the young wife is to accomplish most successfully the purpose of her mission.