A Woman's Hardest Lot, Timothy
Shea Arthur, Lovers and Husbands, A Story of Married Life, 1847. No man is able fully to meet
and reciprocate a true woman's love. The best of men, with all
their willingness, with all their efforts, fail. There are deep
places of her heart unreached, aching voids unfulfilled. And yet, it is astonishing how
small a return will seem to satisfy a woman, and make her heart glow
with sunlight. A pleasant word, a tender look,
a kiss of love—ah, these seem but small returns for the deep
tenderness that ever burns in her bosom. And yet, alas, too
often even these are withheld, and the selfish, reserved, cold,
and at times morose, Lord of Creation, comes in and goes out
daily, never dreaming that by this very coldness, reserve and
moroseness, He is breaking the heart of her who loves Him better
than her own life. But it is ever so. Hundreds,
thousands, yes, tens of thousands of wives Are performing their
round of duties hourly and daily, Unblessed by smiles that warm
the bosom, Or words that make the heart tremble with inner
joy, While all unconscious of their cruel indifference, Those
who provide fine houses, fine furniture, And fine garments
for their victims proudly imagine that they are the best of husbands. Maiden, innocent, loving maiden,
do not turn away from this picture now, or else the time may come
when you will seek to turn from it and shall not be able. When
one comes asking your love, know well if he is worthy of such
love as you can give. Do not look alone at his attractive
exterior. Seek to know what ends actuate
him. It is the loveliness of pure,
high principles that remains verdant the longest, yes, for
ever verdant. These, and these alone, can make
you permanently happy. Without them, an angel's grace,
an angel's form would lose its attractions. With them, the plainest
exterior soon grows beautiful to the eye of a loving wife.
Lay this up in your heart, think of it in the morning, and when
your head presses your pillow at night, it may save you from
a woman's hardest lot, that of being bound for life to a man
who does not even try to make her happy.