250.  The man who is to gain a living by his labour, must be drawn away from home, or, at least, from the cradle-side, in order to perform that labour; but this will not, if he be made of good stuff, prevent him from doing his share of the duty due to his children.  There are still many hours in the twenty-four, that he will have to spare for this duty; and there ought to be no toils, no watchings, no breaking of rest, imposed by this duty, of which he ought not to perform his full share, and that, too, without grudging.  This is strictly due from him in payment for the pleasures of the marriage state.  What right has he to the sole possession of a woman’s person; what right to a husband’s vast authority; what right to the honourable title and the boundless power of father:  what right has he to all, or any of these, unless he can found his claim on the faithful performance of all the duties which these titles imply?

251.  One great source of the unhappiness amongst mankind arises, however, from a neglect of these duties; but, as if by way of compensation for their privations, they are much more duly performed by the poor than by the rich.  The fashion of the labouring people is this:  the husband, when free from his toil in the fields, takes his share in the nursing, which he manifestly looks upon as a sort of reward for his labour.  However distant from his cottage, his heart is always at that home towards which he is carried, at night, by limbs that feel not their weariness, being urged on by a heart anticipating the welcome of those who attend him there.  Those who have, as I so many hundreds of times have, seen the labourers in the woodland parts of Hampshire and Sussex, coming, at night-fall, towards their cottage-wickets, laden with fuel for a day or two; whoever has seen three or four little creatures looking out for the father’s approach, running in to announce the glad tidings, and then scampering out to meet him, clinging round his knees, or hanging on his skirts; whoever has witnessed scenes like this, to witness which has formed one of the greatest delights of my life, will hesitate long before he prefer a life of ease to a life of labour; before he prefer a communication with children intercepted by servants and teachers to that communication which is here direct, and which admits not of any division of affection.

252.  Then comes the Sunday; and, amongst all those who keep no servants, a great deal depends on the manner in which the father employs that day.  When there are two or three children, or even one child, the first thing, after the breakfast (which is late on this day of rest), is to wash and dress the child or children.  Then, while the mother is dressing the dinner, the father, being in his Sunday-clothes himself, takes care of the child or children.  When dinner is over, the mother puts on her best; and then, all go to church, or, if that cannot be,