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Let the young, in adopting their style of living, have an eye strictly and faithfully to their means. If their capital is small, let them be governed accordingly in all their expenses. Their furniture should be plain and cheap, and little, if any, should De procured that is not wanted for actual use. As their pecuniary abilities increase, they can supply themselves with the ornamental, to a moderate degree-always remembering that it is safer and better to be far behind their means, in this respect, than but little in advance.

The wife should always co-operate with the husband in practising upon these economical principles. In purchasing furniture, she should not urge that this or that costly article should be procured, because Mrs. So-and-so has obtained it. She should rather ask, Are we able to incur this expense ?-Cannot the money which would be expended in this purchase, be put to a use which would be much more serviceable?

How many instances are constantly occurring, where young married people become involved in pecuniary difficulties, and meet with early bankruptcy, solely by indulging in imprudent expenditures, at the commencement of their matrimonial The husband may be engaged in a safe and profitable business, which, by exercising prudence and economy, would enable him eventually to become a wealthy man. But, urged on by foolish pride, and blind to future consequences, they must live in as good style at least as some of their

career.

neighbors or associates who have recently mar ried, or, if possible, a little outdo them. Accordingly a large dwelling is built, or rented, at great expense-it must be filled with new and fashionable furniture-frequent and large parties must be given in return for the courtesies extended towards them in the society in which they move-servants and frequent extra help must be employed-places of amusement must be visited-and fine and fashionable dresses must often be purchased! The unavoidable result of all this extravagance is, that the young husband soon begins to find himself cramped in his business affairs-it is with great and greater difficulty that he manages to meet his payments-until finally he becomes bankrupt, and is not only ruined himself, but, perhaps, involves some faithful friend in his overthrow. This, as Matthew Carey says, "is cutting a dash, with the certainty of making a splash!"

Had those who have run this career but exercised a due degree of discretion-had they commenced with a fixed determination to pay but little heed to fashion, to give themselves no anxiety about equalling or excelling the style of others, but to live entirely within their means, they would have prospered in their exertions, and ere long obtained competency and wealth. But now, stripped of property, and broken down in spirit, they have the gloomy prospect of passing life in poverty, if not in want! Let all beginners in matrimonial life take warning by these examples, and in

and in adopting their style of living, remember the homely but expressive adage-" Cut your garment according to your cloth."

In all superfluous expenditures, the wife should pay great regard to the views of her husband. Being familiar with his own resources, he is the most capable of judging as to the propriety of any outlay for the luxuries of life, or to answer the behests of fashion. He has his business plans to execute, and his engagements to fulfil, and he consequently knows best whether he can afford these indulgences or not. The wife, having but little connexion, or perhaps acquaintance with the actual state of her husband's business, is not so capable of judging as to the amount of expenditures to which the family should be limited. She should not, therefore, endeavor, by her influence over her husband, to induce him to make purchases for show or luxury, which he may think it imprudent to indulge in. Many a man has become a bankrupt by allowing his wife to scold or flatter him into expenses unwarranted by his means. The wife may not have been aware that she was gratifying her vanity at so fearful a hazard; but had she listened to her husband's remonstrances, and ceased her importunities, the catastrophe might have been avoided! Every prudent wife will be very far from embarrassing her husband's business, to gratify her vanity; but she will trust to his judgment, and be satisfied with such style and manner of living as his rank and circumstances will consistently allow.

CHAPTER V.

TREATMENT OF DOMESTICS.

"It has grown into a proverb, that good servants make good masters, and vice versa."

It is the dictate both of economy and comfort, that the services of domestics should be dispensed with as much as possible. In former years, it was the good old New-England custom, for the members of each family to perform their own domestic labor, except in cases of sickness. And when there was necessity for employing "help," it was dispensed with at the earliest hour possible -and this often more on the score of convenience and comfort, than of economy. But customs in this respect have somewhat changed. There is now a strife apparently in some classes, to see, not how few domestics they can get along with, but how many they can employ, without running into absolute extravagance.

It is undoubtedly much more pleasant to have the family circle free from strangers, or those uninterested in its welfare and unmindful of its reputation, than to have those present who must often be a restraint upon the free interchange of thought

upon every variety of subject which is desirable. But in the present state of society, most families in comfortable circumstances consider it necessary to employ one or more domestics. In many cases, beyond doubt, this is done when prudence and economy most strictly forbid. When domestics can be made serviceable and useful, it is well to obtain their assistance. But to fill the house with servants, and furnish them with little employment, except to wait upon each other, is improvident in the highest degree. Numberless ladies are constantly repining in restlessness and pain-existing in a kind of living death-only for the want of the healthful exercise of those employments which they intrust to domestics. They, perhaps, consider it degrading to engage in household avocationsespecially in any occupation that is laborious. And thus they sacrifice health and its blessings to a senseless prejudice against that exercise of the bodily faculties, which the Creator has made the source of so many enjoyments.

How common and constant is the complaint in regard to domestics! Whose ears are not fre quently filled with narrations of the troubles, vexa tions, and anxieties, caused by this useful class! According to the conversation of many people, we should judge the great business of their lives to be, to procure and manage their domestics. Thi is their constant torment-their "thorn in the flesh." To hear a couple of ladies of this descrip tion relate to each other their trials and perplexi

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