Why does uncle Henrik need a wife?

Uncle Henrik lives all by himself in Gilleleje. Sometimes, his sister who is Annemarie’s mother teases him for not marrying. According to his sister, a good wife would help him take care of the house and keep the house clean. She would help him with the household chores.
When Annemarie, Kirsti, Ellen and Mrs. Johansen visit Uncle Henrik, Mrs. Johansen does most of the household chores herself. She scrubs the floor and airs the rugs out on the clothesline. She complains about the dust in the little-used living room. She says that Uncle Henrik really does need a wife who can help out with the housework. This includes all the chores that can be done around the house, such as cleaning, washing, and cooking. A wife would be a companion, someone Uncle Henrick can talk to when he comes back home from fishing.