ol-books; also, all spinning-wheels and
weaving-looms, one table, six chairs, tea cups and saucers, one
tea-pot, one sugar dish, and six spoons. (Much laughter). But the
law does not inform us whether they are to be tea or table
spoons; nor does the law make any provision for kettles,
sauce-pans, and all such necessary things. But the presumption
seems to be that the spoons meant are teaspoons; for, as ladies
are generally considered very delicate, the law presumed that a
widow might live on tea only; but spinning-wheels and
weaving-looms are very necessary articles for ladies nowadays.
(Hissing and great confusion). Why, you need not hiss, for I am
expounding the law. These wise law-makers, who seem to have lived
somewhere about the time of the flood, did not dream of spinning
and weaving by steam-power. When our great-great-grandmothers had
to weave every article of apparel worn by the family, it was, no
doubt, considered a very good law to allow the widow the
possession of the spinning-wheels and the weaving-looms. But,
unfortunately for some laws, man is a progressive being; his
belief, opinions, habits, manners, and customs change, and so do
spinning-wheels and weaving-looms; and, with men and things, law
must change too, for what is the value of a law when man has
outgrown it? As well might you bring him to the use of his baby
clothes, because they once fitted him, as to keep him to such a
law. No. Laws, when man has outgrown them, are fit only to be
cast aside among the things that were.

But I must not forget, the law allows the widow something more.
She is allowed one cow, all sheep to the number of ten, with the
fleeces and the cloth from the same, two swine, and the pork
therefrom. (Great laughter). My friends, do not say that I stand
here to make these laws ridiculous. No; if you laugh, it is at
their own inherent ludicrousness; for I state them simply and
truly as they are; for they are so ridiculous in themselves, that
it is impossible to make them more so.

Mrs. NICHOLS said: As widow, too, the law bears heavily on woman.
If her children have property, she is adjudged unworthy of their
guardianship; and although the decree of God has made her the
true and natural guardian of her children, she is obliged to pay
from her sc