The Proverbs 31 Wife... in British Literature?

Picture Credit

In Charles Dickens' book David Copperfield (a wonderful book, by the way), the main character (David) meets up with an old friend from his school days: a bumbling but good-natured fellow nicknamed Traddles. In catching up with his friend, David learns that Traddles has recently married his long-time sweetheart, whom he terms "the dearest girl in the world." This is what he says about her:

“ I am sure that we are two of the happiest people,” returned Traddles. “I admit that, at all events. Bless my soul, when I see her getting up by candlelight on these dark mornings, busying herself in the day’s arrangements, going out to market before the clerks come into the Inn, caring for no weather, devising the most capital little dinners out of the plainest materials, making puddings and pies, keeping everything in it’s right place, always so neat and ornamental herself, sitting up at night with me if it’s ever so late, sweet-tempered an encouraging always, and all for me, I positively some times can’t believe it, Copperfield!”

Sounds a lot like the Proverbs 31 woman to me! I hope that someday my husband will be able speak of me in the same way, that I will make his way brighter and easier; and going a step beyond Traddles' "dear girl", that I will be his helpmeet in serving the Lord.

~Lissie