Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-07-15


MIDDLETON.
have often had occasion to remark the forude with
which women sustain the most overwhelming reverses
of fortune. Those disasters which break down the spirit
of man, and PROSTATE him in the DUST to call
forth all the energies of the softer and give such in
trepy and elevation to their character that at times
approaches to sublinity Nothing can be more touch
ing than 10 behold SOFT aud tender female who had
been all weakness and dependence, and alive every
trivial roughness while treadng the prosperous paths of
e. suddenly rising nenta force, TO be the comforter
and s,jp,,.ar of her husband under misfortune and
abiding with unsnring rnuess, the bitterest blasts
of adversity
As the vine which has long twined It's graceful foliage
around the oak and been lifted by into sunshine WILL
when the hardy plant rited by the thunderbo cling
round il with its caressing tendrs and bind up its shat
tered boughs is it beautifully ordered by Providence
that woman, who is the dependant and ornament
OF in his happier hours should be his stay and solace
when smItten with sudden calamity winding herself into
the rugged of his nature teDderly supporting
the dropping head, and binding up the broken heart.
! was congratulating friend, who had around
him blooming family, knit together in the strongest
affection. 81 can wish you better lot" said he, with
enthusiasm, ''than To have wife and chldren--it YOU
prosperous, there they TO share your prosperity
If otherwise, there they to comfort you.n And
deed have observed that married men falling into mis-
fortune, apt TO retrieve their situation the
world than single men; partly because they
stimulated 10 cXcron by the necessities of the helpless
aud beloved beings who depend upon them for Subsis
ence but chiefly because their spirits soolcd and
relieved by domestic cndearments. and their self
awe th2t though all abroad IS darkness
and humiliation, yet there is still little word Of love,
OF which they arc monarchs. Whereas single man is
apt to run TO waste and self neglect; fancy himself
lonely and abandoned, and his heart fall 10 ruin like
some deserted mansion, for want of inhabiant.
These cbservatioqs call TO mind little domestic
ry of (which was once witness Ny intimate friend,
Leslie, had married beautiful and accom- plished girl
who had been brought up IN the midst OF fashionable life.
She had it is true, fortune but that of INV friend
ample and he delighted in the anticipation of in
iuigng "cr IN every elegant pursuit and administering
TO those delicate tastes and tances, that spread kind
of witchcry about Che scX."ier life" said he shall
be like fairy tale.n
The very difference in their characters produced an
harmonious combinations lie was of a romantic and
somewhat serious, cast; she all life and gadness--
aTe often noticed the mute rapture with which he
would gaze upon her in company cf which her srrhtlv
powers made her the delight and how in the midst of
applause her eye would still turn tc him, If there
! alone she sought favour and acceptance When Loan
ing on his arm, her slender form conased finely with
his tall, manly person. The fond confiding air with
which she looked up To him. seemed TO call forth flush
ri triumphant pride and chershug tenderness. il he
doated his lovely burhen for its very heIpessness
Never did couple set forward tie owerv path of
early and wei''suited marriage with farer pros Of
felicity.
1t was the msap of my friend however to have en-
parked m fortune IN large specuiations and he had
oeen married many months when, by succession of
sudden disasters, ii swept from him and he found
himself reduced almost to penury. For time he kept
las situation 10 himself and about with baggard
countenance, and breaking heart. His life was but
pfotTaCled agony; and what rendered insnn
portable was the necessity ofkeeping up smile in the
presence of hrs wife; for he could not bring himself 10
oYerwhcm her with tie news. She saw however, with
me quick eyes OF affection, that all was wen with
him. She marked iis altered looks and stied sp,s and
was not to be deceived by his sicly and vapd stempts
al cheeTuiness She tasked all her sprighy powers
ana tender blanshments to win him back TO happiness
but she only drove the deeper into his soul The
more e to love her. the more torturuo vvae
the thought that he TO make her wretched-
little whle thought he, and tAe smile will vanish
from that cheeHthe song will die away from those Inns
the usre OF those eyes will be quenched with sorrow
and the happy heart which beats lightly in that
bosom, will be weighed down, like mine, by the cares
and miserles of the world.
! AT length he to me one day and related his
whole situation in tone ofthe deepest despair. When
had heard him through, inquired .sdoes your " ID,
Know all tf1s'At the question he burst into an agony
OF tears For Gods sake" cried he, elf YOU have any
pity me, don't mention my wife !: IS the thought of ~
! that drives me almost to madness.u
/ 'And why not" said L. "She r.yr; know # soono
or iaer you cannot keep long from her and the in
tclEeE;c may break u0h her 10 a more stariii;,o man
ne than If impaired by YOURSELF for the accents o
those we love soften the harshcs tdines Besides ron
are dePrving yourself of the comforts of her symnaiy
and not merely that but also cndangcrng The only bond
that can keep hearts together-an unreserved coinmu
NIFTY OF thought and feeling She will soon perceive
ta something is secretly preying upon your mind: and
true love viii not brook but feels unJerva1ed
and outraged, when the sorrows of those il Invos
| concealed from tn
ooh, but, my frend to think what a blow am t
give 10 all her lutuTe prospcc5-how am 10 strike her
very soul to the earth, by telling her That her husband
is a begger!-that she is to orego all he eeqanees of
lIe-all the pleasures of society-to shrink win, ne
INTO Indulgence and obsCurity To tell her that have
dragged her down from the sphere in which size MIGHT
nave continued 10 move in constant brigttncss-Ilc
light OF every eye-the admiration of every bc.rr
How can she bear poverty? she has been brought I'M in
all me reinements of opulence. How can She bear
pegIecE sue has been The idol of society. Oh it will
break her heart it will break her hearts,
saw his grief eloquent, and let il hay @ IFS flow.
tor sorrow relieves jtselfby words. When his yaroxvsm
had subsidized and he bad rclapsed into moody silence
resumed the subject gently, and urged him to break his
situation at once to his wife He shook his head nontn
fully but positively.
'Bu how you 10 keep from herr Tt is necessary
she should know it, that you may take the slcrs proper
to the alteration of your circumstances You must
change your style of liying-nay,n observing panr
to pass across his countenance, on't let that act YOU
am sure you have never placed your happiness in out
ward show-you have yet friends, warm friends who
WI not hnk the worse of you for being less spIendidy
lodged and surely Il does not require a palace to be
happy with Mary"
~ could be happy with her." cried he convuIsivel1