The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Messieurs Fowles,

I have seen in your Paper of late two poetical Pieces, the first intituled the Unhappy Fire-Side; the other the Contrast or Happy Fire-Side. They give different views of Matrimony, and both appear to me to be very distant from what is real in general. Therefore I here send you a third upon the same Subject.

Fire-Sides in general; or, the Accounts ballanc'd

When kindred Souls, in nuptial State,
Are full of Wealth and fortunate,
How blest the silken Chain?
But diff'rent minds by Hymen ty'd,
With Wealth unequal to their Pride,
Will bring increase of Pain
When mutual Loves produce the Joys
Of healthful, Sprightly Girls and Boys,
It makes the Parents glad.
But jealous Minds, or sickly race,
Dead soon, or Living in disgrace,
The Case is render'd sad.
When Partners Share each others Pains,
And add to Joys that each one gains,
Their bliss, O! who can tell?
But when they Happiness begrudge,
Or aggravate their Torments, Such
Endure a kind of Hell,
When Wives will keep at home, be chaste;
And Husbands Earnings never waste,
I will not curse the Yoaking:
But light, and gossiping each Day,
And squandering what they have away,
'Tis horribly provoking.
When Mates are meek, and condescend
To cover Faults and act the Friend,
The State is truly blest.
But when affections are quite cold;
He prompt to rave, and she to scold.
It must be call'd distrest,
Of Marrying then, Such is the Chance
That bliss will lessen, or advance,
According as you're suited.
A Lottery 'tis, where none can guess
Whether the Blanks are more, or less
Than Prizes; 'tis disputed.