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Industry and Economy
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detrimental to them. They need a firm, steady hand; for they are
wayward. They need regular, wise, judicious discipline.
You might save yourself much perplexity if you would put on
the woman and move from principle, not from impulse. You have
imagined that your husband must be with you, that you could not
stay alone. You should see that his duty is to labor to sustain his
family. You should bring yourself to deny your desires and wishes,
and not lead him to feel that he must accommodate himself to you.
You have a part to act in bearing the burdens of life. You must put
on courage and fortitude. Be a woman, not a capricious child. You
have been petted and have had your burdens borne for you too long.
It is now your duty to seek to deny your wishes and desires, and act
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from principle, for the present and future good of your family. You
are not well; but if you should cultivate a contented, cheerful mind,
it would help you to a better hold on this life, and also on the life to
come.
Brother R, it is your duty to make a careful, judicious use of the
capital of strength which God has given you.
Sister R, your brain is wearied and taxed by reading. You should
deny your propensity for crowding your mind with everything it
can devour. Your lifetime has not been spent in the best manner.
You have not benefited yourself, nor those around you. You have
leaned on your mother more than has been for your good. If you
had depended more upon the powers within yourself, if you had
been more self-reliant, you would have been happier. Now you
should bear your own burdens as well as you can, and encourage
your husband to bear his in doing his work.
If you had denied your taste for reading and seeking to please
yourself, had devoted more time to prudent physical exercise, and
had eaten carefully of proper, healthful food, you would have
avoided much suffering. A part of this suffering has been imag-
inary. If you had braced your mind to resist the disposition to yield
to infirmities, you would not have had nervous spasms. Your mind
should be drawn away from yourself to household duties, keeping
your house with order, neatness, and taste. Much reading, and per-
mitting your mind to be diverted with small things, has led to a
neglect of your children and your household duties. These are the
very duties which God has given you to perform.