The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-14

From Lrping's "Sksfeh Book. =
MARRIED LIFE.

TALE or LOVE AND HAPPINESS, DEDICATED TO
| THE WHOLE BACHELOR TRIBE.
Inc treasures Of the deep are not precious
a. are the concealed comforts of man
Lockd up in womans love. scent the air
~ blessing when come but near the house
what delicious breath marriage sends forth
Inc siolets beds not sweeter."
have often had occasion TO remark the forti-
tude with which, women sustain the most over
wneimng reverses of fortune. Those disasters
winch break down the spirit of a man, and pros
tra'e INN 10 the dust. seem to call forth all the
energies Of the softer sex, and give such intre-
pidity and elevation to their character, that al
times II approaches to sublimity. Nothing can
De more touching than TO behold soft and ten
DER female, who had been all weakness and de-
penaence, and alive to every trivial roughness,
while treadlng The prosperous paths OF life, sud-
deny risingsiu mental force, TO be the comforter
OF her husband under misfortune, and abiding
with unshrinking ffmness the bitterest blasts of
adversely. a
Asthe vine which haslong twined its grace
full foliage about the oak, and been lifted by it
into sunshine, will, when the hardy plant is rift
ed by the thunderbolt cling round il with its ca
ressing tendrills, and bind up its shattered
boughs, so 1t is beautifully ordered by Provi-
| dence that woman, who is the mere dependent
and ornament Of man in his happier hours should
be his stay and solace when smitten with sud
den calamity, winding herself into the rugged
recesses Of his nature, tenderly supporting the
dropping head and binding up the broken heart
| | was once congratulating friend who had
around him blooming family, knit together in
the strongest affection. 81 can wish you no
better lot" said he, with enthusiasm, than to
have wife and children" If you are prospe-
rous, they are to share your prosperity; if other
wise, there they are to comfort you. And in
deed I-have observed that married man falling
| into misfortune, Is more apt TO retrieve his ST.
tuation in the world than single one, partly be-
cause he is more stimulated to exertion by the
necessities Of the helpless and beloved beings
who depend upon him for subsistence, but chief
| ly because his spirits are soothed and relieved
by domestic endearments, and his self.respect
kept alive by finding that though all abroad is
darkness and humiliation, yet there is still lit
tie world of love at home, of which he is the
| monarch; whereas single man is apt to ruin,
to waste, and self-neglect, to fancy himself lone
ly and abandoned, and his heart to fall to ruin
like some deserted mansion, for want Of an in
! habitant
These observations call to mind little domes-
| tic story, of which was once witness. My
intimate friend, Leslie, had married beautiful
and accomplished girl, who had been brought up
in the midst of fashionable life. She had, it is
| true, no fortune, but that of my friend was am
pie; and he delighted in the anticipation Of in
dugng her in every elegant pursuit, and admin
iserng to those delicate tastes and fancies that
| spread kind of witchery about the sex. "Her
| life y said he. " shall be like fairy tale.n
The very difference in their characters produ-
ced an harmonious combination. He was of
| romantic and somewhat serious cast-she was
all life and gladness. have often noticed the
mute rapture with which he would gaze upon
her company, of which her sprightly powers
made her the deligot; and how, in the midst Of
applause, her eye would still turn TO him, as if
| there alone she sought favor and acceptance
When leaning on his arm, her slender form con-
trasted finely with his tall manly person. The
fond, confding air with which she looked up to
| him seemed 10 call forth flush Of triumphant
pride and chershing tenderness, as if he dotted on
| his lovely burthen for its very helplessness.-
| Never did couple set forward on the fowery
path of early and wel-sulted marriage with
| fairer prospect OF felicity.
II was the mishap o. my friend, however, TO
have embarked his fortune in large speculations,
| and he had not been married many months, when
by succession of sudden disasters, it was swept
| from him, and he found himself reduced almost
| to penury. For time he kept his situation to
himself, and went about with haggard coun-
tenance and breaking heart His life was but
| n protracted agony and what rendered it more
insupportable was the necessity of keeping up
smile in the presence Of his wife, for he could
not bring himself to overwhelm her with the
news. She saw, however, with the quick eye
of affection, that all was not well with him. She
marked his altered looks and stihed signs, and
was not to be deceived by his sickly and vapid
attempts al cheerfulness She tasked all her
sprighty powers and tender Establishments 10
win him back to happiness; but she only drove
| the arrow deeper into his soul. The more he
saw cause to love her, the more torturing was the
| thought that he was soon TO make her wretched.
A little. thought he, and the smile will vanish
from that cheek-the song will die away from
those lips-the lustre Of those eyes will be
auenched with sorrow and the happy heart
| which now beats lightly in that bosom, will be
weighed down like mine, by the cares and mise
ries Of the world.
| AT length he came to me one day and related
his whole situation in the tone of the deepest
despair When had heard him through, en-
CURED, "Does your wife know all this 2" At
the question he burst into an agony of tears.
(" For Gods sake! |" cried he, ifyou have any
pity on me, don't mention my wife; 1t is the
| thought OF her that drives me almost TO mad
ness !"
"And why not?" said l. "She must know
il sooner or later You cannot keep il long from
her, and the intelligence may break upon her In
a more startling manner than il impaired by
Yourself; for the accents Of those we love soften
the harshest tidings. Besides you are depriving
Yourself of the comforts of her sympathy, and
not merely that, but also endangering the only
bond that can keep hearts together--an unreser-
we'd community of thought and feeling She
will soon perceive that something is secretly
preying upon your mind, and true love will not
brook reserve; it feels under-valued and outrag-
ed when even the sorrows Of those it loves are
concealed from it,"
0, my friend, but to think what blow am
to give to all her future prospects--how am to
strike her very soul 10 the earth by telling her
that her husband is beggar-that she is to fore
go all the elegancies official the pleasures OF
society-to shrink with me into Indulgence and OBJ