"Were a young woman brought to relish home society, and the calm delights of an agreeable occupation, before she entered into the delusive scenes of pleasure, presented by theatre and other dissipations, it is probable she would soon make a comparison much in favour of the former, especially if restraint did not give to the latter additional relish.
If we carry on our observations to married life, we shall find a love of employment to be the source of unnumbered pleasures. To attend to the nursing and at least early instructions of children, and rear a healthy progeny in the ways of piety and usefulness: to preside over the family and regulate the income allotted to maintenance; to make home the sweet refuge of a husband fatigued by intercourse with a jarring world: to be his enlightened companion and the chosen friend of his heart: these, these are woman's duties! And delightful ones they are if she be married to a man whose soul can duly estimate her worth, and who will bring his share to the common stock of felicity. Of such a woman one may truly say, 'Happy the man who can call her his wife. Blessed are the children who call her mother.' "
Miscellaneous Observations for the Mistress of a Family from Domestic Cookery for the Use of Private Families, Mrs. Rundell, 1845; (Persephone Books reprinted the 1816 edition of this work.)
I came upon the quotation in a unique and wonderful place, and I'll tell you all about it in the next post.
Ah the little woman at home - have things changed that much - possibly not.
Posted by: elaine | 06 October 2013 at 07:28 PM
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Posted by: Dark Puss | 07 October 2013 at 08:02 AM