And why is there so much debauchery? Why such sad consequences?
Why? But because many young men, who fear the consequences which a large family produces, turn to debauchery and destroy their own happiness as well as the happiness of the unfortunate girls with whom they connect themselves.
Other young men, whose moral and religious feelings deter then from this vicious course, marry early and produce large families, which they are utterly unable to maintain. These are the causes of the wretchedness which afflicts you.
But when it has become the custom here as elsewhere, to limit the number of children, so that none need have more than they wish to have, no man will fear to take a wife, all will be married while young;—debauchery will diminish:—while good morals, and religious duties will be promoted.
CHAPTER VIII.
TO THE MARRIED OF BOTH SEXES IN GENTEEL LIFE.
Among the many sufferings of women, as mothers, there are two cases which command the utmost sympathy and commiseration.
The first arises from constitutional peculiarities, or weakness.
The second from mal-conformation of the bones of the pelvis.
Besides these two cases, there is a third case, applicable to both sexes; namely, the consequence of having more children than the income of the parents enables them to maintain and educate in a desirable manner.
The first named case produces miscarriages, and brings on a state of existence scarcely endurable. It has caused thousands of respectable women to linger on in pain and apprehension, till, at length, death has put an end to their almost inconceivable sufferings.