A TRUE MAN.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4189, 17 January 1871, Page 3

A TRUE MAN.

To the Editor of the Dailt Southern Cross. Sir, — A bachelor friend tried to make me see that Ihadbeentoo sweepinginmy stricturesin my lastletter,toohardonmen, too tender toour girls. T coulj «cc thafc he, good honest fellow, was more nettled than he liked to own. He reminded me of the story with which many of us are familiar : Rowland Hill one day stopped ma sermonand ordered all hypocrites to go out of the church. He ceaBed speaking, to give the opportunity of so doing. One poor old soul got up and went out of her pew ; ere she reached the door he called her back, saying she "was no hypocrite" — that the hypocrites could not stir an inch. May be I have unwittingly pained some tender manly heart, when the irrepressible coxcomb and fop — I had almostwritten fox —trips alt n j as jaantily as ever -never likely to wear the cap that fits him so well. Men cannot endure satire from a woman's pen: so I should recommend that as long as they live in a glass house they should have the grace to refrain from ridiculing women, or they will receive their own with interest. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Ah me ! I wish I was nearing eighteen instead of eighty: then tbe promised Siss for a blow might "be accepted as ample compensation. " Our judgments are apt io be arrogant because we see but a little way." I am proud to know that even in ) oor drunken Auckland there are many Indus fciious honest-hearted trite men, men who do well their daily task, if they only seek to grow a cabbage. One loves to see a man throw his heart into his work and so dignify the commonest act. It is a grind thing to find recreation in everything d<^-^^»» laving s^irilj into &» wor«.

I that lies to our hand — not to look at life as a wep*v round of useless toil, but as work "the y*ther"hnBgivenuBtodo, and resolve to dolt •well for hia sake. I never see a man carrying a baby, or leading his little ones by the hand, but 1 bless him in my heart. My blessing may be nothing to him. He does me good. " The deeds themselves, though mute, speak loud the doer. " Ithink it is such a kind manly thing to help a woman, if she is overdone with her many little worries. Not that our women should be milksops, namby-pamby simpletons. No : let each do well his or her parfc. When a man has toiled all day he should be very sure tbat loving greeting will welcome him to the quiet enjoyments of home. To one not overburdened with household cares, with good spirits, consequent on rude health, such greeting i8 very easy to give ; but to a woman of only moderate health and strength, with bub one pair of hands to meet the ever recurring wants of her many little chicks, and their endleaa round of difficulties, I can fancy it's a very heavy stvam on Iver spfttvt energies to throw freshness and brightness into the family circle. It is worry, not work, that kills ; there must be a strong, deep love in the jaded, sore-pressed heart for her to strive to be blythe and brisk for another's sake. A kind, true man will not overtax her weakness, but will lend his strength to meet the need — never give his sunshine to th« world, and reserve only the clouds for his own fireside. 'Tis sweet to note the flash of sunlight that illumines the wan face when husband's or father's glad step is heard. What magic music there is in it. He must be an industrious, manly, true man for his presence to be so inspiriting. As it takes tvo to make a quarrel, so it takes two to make home life happy. So long as woman is ridiculed and despised she can never rear unselfish, honourable, noble men : the boy will follow the father's bent as a rule; hence the overbeaving insolence of our youth. It is marvellous how much of a woman's love, timfe,a.-ndcaeYgi«s,aoiaeia<;B.^iLlakt\sotliatiA^.ve nofchiag, absolutely nothing, hub food and clothing in return — some not even that — and deem her unreasonable and ungrateful if she dares to ask that he will give himself. Ido think, instead of hurling stones at each other, we should (men and women) try to improve ourselves. " Right too rigid hardens into wrong." A Woman.