પૃષ્ઠ:SasuVahuniLadhai.pdf/૭

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estimate can be formed from outward evidence. Little of nothing is seen of it out of doors, and even within the house its true working can only be traced and studied at the fireside and in the back and secluded chambers. We do not say that any particular pains is taken to shroud the working of this relationship in mystery; it is simply not discerned by those who have no free access to native houses on account of the seclusion in which the females live.

"In order that native life in the relationship of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law may be understood, we will give a typical case which is now before our mind. A native mother selects a wife for her son, aged ten, and chooses a child of four years. Preliminaries of a betrothal are settled and the betrothal takes place. The future daughter-in-law is at once sent over to the future mother-in-law and remains in the house of the latter for one or more days, during which time the future husband has the opportunity of admiring his future wife. The future daughter-inlaw pays the future mother-in-law frequent visits for several years and during these visists it is the privilege of the future motherin-law to exercise quite a motherly influence upon the child. That influence deepens with time, and long before the child reaches the age of twelve years the most implicit obedience is usually exacted from it. Then follows the pucka marriage and the bride covered with such jewels as the parents can afford, enters the undivided household and at once becomes a recognized member of her husband's family. Drudgery is the rule of life for the native bride, and there are few who are permitted completely to escape the work of the scullery. But whether this is escaped or not, now begins the true relationship of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and now begins the education of the wife. The early influence of the motherin-law is now increased and so is the submission of the daughterin-law. Defiance of the new maternal authority is unknown, and any spirit of self-assistance is impossible. Aided by all the power of the household the mother-in-law can assert her authority without let or hindrance, and the life of the daughter-in-law is made just what the mother-in-law may wish : it may be one of comfort and of ease or the reverse. There may be peace and quietness or there may be broils and sulks. All depends upon the temper and disposition of the mother-in-law, and very little indeed upon the youthful husband. The wife can scarcely appeal to her husband against domestic oppression, especially when the married ones are little more than children. Nor can the girl wife arrange her own course of domestic life. That is all arranged for her, and her duty is to yield obedience. Her own parents may receive the complaints of their dauther, but these complaints can seldom or never be

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