Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-03-03
MISCELLAIgX,
THE WIFE.

hours in life are so full of buoyancy ano
hope, Of kindness and affection, as those
Of courtship, and few, it may be truly
said, are so important to her future wei
fare and happiness. In her lover she
too often sees all that is worthy and re-
spectacle in man the ardor Of her af-
fec,ion sofens the most offensive traits
of character, and obliterates all minor
failings. Whatever she may have COL
lected from poetry, from novels, or from
history, is brought in aid of her imagl-
nation, which pictures in the most glow
ing colors the character of a husband,
and her affection persuades her that ia
her lover she has found perfect repre-
sentative of this ideal picture.
In dreams of confidence in the pru-
dence other choice, and delightful an
ticipstions of succeeding years of afIec-
tion and happiness, she is led to the al
tar; and how offer, alas does one short
year bring home to her aching bosom
the sad reality of the falsity and empti-
ness of all her hopes Of mutual love,
tender assiduity, and lasting affection
Yesterday the lover was all attention,
and love marked every action; to. day
the husband is cold, distant, and neg
iectful, preferrng the company Of the
worthless and dissipated to that of her,
who, but few days since, he nattered
himself was dearer to him than all the
world beside.
can hardly picture to myself stu
alton more truly heart-rendng and de-
plorable, than that Of female who has
found every want anticipated, and every
reasonable wish gratified, under the pa
ternal roof, leaving that roof with the
warm confidence of youth, to repose on
the bosom Of affection, but finding her
confidence betrayed, her affection slight
ed, and herself, with a helpless lf,pring,
left to struggle with unkindness, poverty
and want. Such, alas is too often the
case in this world Of uncertainty, " here
we find mixed with the kindest blessings
of our Heavenly Father evils which al
most stagger our strongest faith.
In my boyish days, when every thing
was bright and sunny, and pleasure
sported in beautiful perspective before
me, | sometimes wandered to neigh
boring farmhouse to pass an idle hour
with its lovely and innocent inmates, who
were as thoughlless and cheerful as my
self. Among these beautiful girls was
one more advanced in age than the rest,
whose modesty and blooming beauty
was the admiration and envy of the vii
lage throng. Twenty winters have pass
ed over my head since | saw her sport
ing on the green, and vet at this distan,
day, | cannot recollect her sylph-Iike
form, her sprightly manner, and he af:
fectionate smile, without a thrill of de-
light.
Eliza's hand had often been solicited
by her equals. and even by those whose
fortunes were much superior to her own
but none were able to win her heart
About her twentieth year she met at &
friends young gentleman who had re-
Gently come to reside in the neighbor
hood; his figure was elegant, his feat
ures regular, and his whole appearance,
such as at first sight was calculated t.
captivate the affections of young, in
experienced, and susceptible girl. II,
was aippant, bold, and even boisterous
which, TO one little acquainted with th,
world, might indicate great degree o
spirit: but it was, in fact, nothing but thu
ebullition Of an irritable and petulen
temper. To this man Eliza becam
most passionalely attached; he ofere,
her his hand, and it was accepted in op
position to the advice aud entreaties o
her parents.
| 1t was about this time left the pa
iernal roof, and new scenes and increas
ing cares almost obliterated the beauti
iul Eliza from my recollection.
During one Of the inclement nights @
. 0ur NeR- EnuIsaA ,.;a,ar, s ii