The New Hampshire Gazette

ADVICE to a Young Lady, lately
Married. By an unmarried Lady.

Being very proper for every married Man to present
to his Wife and Daughters, and the Bachelors to
their Mistresses.

DEAR Peggy. Since the single State
You've left, and chose yourself a Mate;
Since metamorphos'd to a Wife,
And Bliss or Woe's inur'd for Life.
A friendly Muse the Way would shew.
To gain the Bliss, and miss the Woe.
But first of all, I must suppose
You've with mature Reflection chose :
And this premis'd, I think you may
Here find to married Bliss the Way.
Small is the Province of a Wife.
And narrow is her Sphere in Life ;
Within that Sphere to move aright
Should be her principal Delight ;
To guide the House with prudent Care,
And properly to spend and spare ;
To make her Husband bless the Day
He gave his Liberty away;
To form the tender Infant Mind :
These are the Tasks to Wives assign'd :
Her never think domestic Care
Beneath the Notice of the Fair :
But daily those Affairs inspect.
That nought be wasted by neglect.
Be Frugal, Plenty round you see,
And always keep the Golden Mean.
Be always clean, but seldom fine.
Let decent Neatness round you shine ;
If once fair Decency be fled,
Love soon deserts the genial Bed.
Not nice your House, tho' neat and clean:
In all Things there's a proper Mean :-
Some of our Sex mistake in this,
Too anxious some, some too remiss.
The early Days of wedded Life.
Are oft o'ercast by childish Strife ;
Then be it your peculiar Care,
To keep that Season bright and fair ;
For then's the Time by gentle Art
To fix your Empire in his Heart.
With kind, obliging Carriage strive
To keep the Lamp of Love alive ;
For should it thro' Neglect expire,
No Art again can light the Fire.
To charm his Reason dress your Mind,
Till Love shall be with Friendship join'd :
Rais'd on that Basis, twill endure,
From Time, and Death itself secure.
Be sure you ne'er for Pow'r contend,
Nor try by Tears to gain your End :
Sometimes the Tears which cloud our Eyes
From Pride and Obstinacy rise.
Heav'n gave to Man superior Sway,
Then Heav'n and him at once obey.
Let sullen Frowns your Brow ne'er cloud;
Be always cheerful, never loud ;
Let Trifles never discompose
Your Features, Temper, or Repose.
Abroad for Happiness ne'er roam ;
True Happiness resides at Home ;
Still make your Partner easy there,
(Man finds Abroad sufficient Care.)
If every Thing at Home be right,
He'll always enter with Delight ;
Your Converse he'll prefer to all
Those Cheats the World does pleasure call.
With cheerful Chat his Cares beguile,
And always meet him with a Smile.
Should Passion e'er his Soul deform,
Serenely meet the bursting Storm ;
Never in wordy War engage,
Nor ever meet his Rage with Rage.
With all our Sex's softening Art
Recall lost Reason to his Heart :
Thus calm the Tempest in his Breast.
And sweetly soothe his Soul to rest.
Before you ne'er arraign his Sense :
Few Husbands pardon that Offence ;
Twill Discord raise, Disgust it breeds,
And Hatred certainly succeeds :
Then shun, O shun that fatal Shelf,
Still think him wiser than yourself ;
If you should otherwise believe,
Ne'er let him such a Thought perceive.
When Cares invade your Partner's Heart
Bear you a sympathizing Part,
And kindly claim your Share of Pain,
And half his Troubles still sustain :
From rising Morn till setting Night,
To see him pleas'd, your chief Delight.
But now, methinks, I hear you cry,
Shall she pretend, O Vanity !
To lay down Rules for wedded Life,
Who never was herself a Wife ?
I own you've ample Cause to chide,
And blushing throw my Pen aside.