But, John, if Lillie had been stricken with blindness, or insanity, or paralysis, you would not have shrunk from your duty to her; and, because the blindness and paralysis are moral, you will not shrink from it, will you?
You sacrifice all your property to pay an indorsement for a debt that is not yours; and why do you do it?
Because society rests on every man's faithfulness to his engagements.

John, if you stand by a business engagement with this faithfulness, how much more should you stand by that great engagement which concerns all other families and the stability of all society.

Lillie is your wife.

You were free to choose; and you chose her.

She is the mother of your child; and, John, what that daughter is to be depends very much on the steadiness with which you fulfil your duties to the mother.