Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/53

Rh storekeeper, for instance—a grocer or a dry goods’goods [sic] dealer. He has served, in the first place, an apprenticeship at the business, industriously working with his hands, as well as with his mind, for one, two, three, or four years. At length, he goes into business for himself, and, after a few years, takes a wife, and makes her the mistress of his household. His business we will suppose to be successful. This being the case, we know that he must diligently attend to it, and give it the strength of his very best thoughts. Early in the morning, he goes to his store, and there he remains through the day, except when called out on business, or during a brief intermission of his duties for dinner. He stands at his counter, and serves out his goods to his customers; he looks over his accounts, and sees that all is done correctly; he carefully watches the markets, in order to buy with safety. In fact, all the powers of his mind and body are devoted to his business. He knows that there is no other way of success. If he were to pause to take his ease, or to think about the drudgery of his life, he knows too well that all would be in danger,—that he would be unable to secure, for those best beloved by him, the comforts he now brings into his household.

Now, is it requiring too much of the wife of