Why, I'm only too glad to see him enjoying his food if no harm comes of it; but it's dreary work seeing your husband in the Slough of Despond, especially when it's your business to drag him out again, and most especially when you particularly warned him against going in." Mrs.Hankey groaned.

"The Bible says true when it tells us that men are born to give trouble as the sparks fly upward; and it is a funny Providence, to my mind, as ordains for women to be so bothered with 'em.
At my niece's wedding, as we were just speaking about, 'Susan,' I says, 'I wish you happiness; and I only hope you won't live to regret your marriage as I have done mine.' For my part, I can't see what girls want with husbands at all; they are far better without them." "Not they, Mrs.Hankey," replied Mrs.Bateson warmly; "any sort of a husband is better than none, to my mind.

Life is made up of naughts and crosses; and the folks that get the crosses are better off than those that get the naughts, though that husbands are crosses I can't pretend to deny; but I haven't patience with single women, I haven't--they have nothing to occupy their minds, and so they get to talking about their health and such-like fal-lals." "Saint Paul didn't hold with you," said Mrs.Hankey, with reproach in her tone; "he thought that the unmarried women minded the things of the Lord better than the married ones." "Saint Paul didn't know much about the subject, and how could he be expected to, being only a bachelor himself, poor soul?
But if he'd had a wife, she'd soon have told him what the unmarried women were thinking about; and it wouldn't have been about the Lord, I'll be bound.

Now take Jemima Stubbs; does she mind the things of the Lord more than you and I do, Mrs.Hankey, I should like to know ?" "I can't say; it is not for us to judge." "Not she! Why, she's always worrying about that poor little brother of hers, what's lame.

I often wish that the Lord would think on him and take him, for he's a sore burden on Jemima, he is.