Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-01
MISCELLANY.
TINE WIFE.
BY wAsHINNGToN IRVING


| have often had occasion to remark the lorli- I
ude with which women sustain the most over f.
reverscs of fortune. Those disasters !
which break down the spirit of man. and pros +
rate him in the dust, to call forth all the en-
,rgies of the softer sex, and give such nrepdty
md elevation to their character that AT times il
approaches to sublnity. Nothing can he more
ouching, than to behold soft aud tender female,
who had been all weakness aud dependence, aud
alive to every trivial rougbnUss, while trendng tie
prosperous paths OF life, suddenly rising in ncn-
tai force to be the comforter and supporter OF her
husband under misfortune, and abiding, with I'M
shrinking iirtnness, the bicrest blasts of adversi
ty.
As the vine, which has long twined its graceful
foliage about the oak, and been lifted by 1t into
sunshine. will, when the hardy plant is rGed 10y |
the thunderboli, cling round it with its earessing
teudrls, aud bind up its shattered boughs SO is II
beautifully ordered hy Providence, that woman, !
who is the mere dependent aud ornament OF man |
in hiA happier hours should be bis stay and soIace
when snitten with sudden calamity; winding her
self into the rugged recesses OF his nature tender
ly supporting The dropping head, and binding up
the broken heart.
| was once congrauatng friend, who had II
round him blooming family, knit together in The
strongest affection. 4 wish you no better lot
said he with enthusiasm, than to have n wife and
children. If you are prosperous, there they are
to share your prosperity if otherwise, there they
are to comfort You And, indeed, have observ-
ed that married man falling into misfortune, is
more apt to retrieve his situation in the world than
a single one partly, because he is more stmra-
ted to exertion by the necessities of the helpless
and beloved beings who depend upon him for
subsistence; but chiefly, because his spirits are
soothed and relieved 10y domestic endearment, and
his sellrespect kept alive by finding That though
all abroad is darkness and humiliation, yet there
is still little world of love at home, Of which he
| is the monarch. Whereas, single man is apt to
run to waste and set-neglect; to fancy himself
lonely and abandoned and his heart to fall TO ru-
in, like some deserted malIsion, for want OF an in
! hubiiant.
These observations call to mind little domes-
| tic story, Of which was once Il witness. My in
timue friend, Leslie, had married beautiful aud
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 ample and
he delighted in The anticipation OF indulging her
i'll every elegan: pursuit, and administering to
those delicate tastes and lancies that spread kind
lot witchery about the sex. Her life, said he
itsllall be like Il larry tale
The very difference in their characters produ :
Iced harmonious combination he of ro-
mantle, ami somewhat serious cast she was all
fife and gladnesg. i have often noticed the mute
rapture with which be would gaze upon her il
Ieompany, Of which her sprghly powers made
her eye would still turn to him, as if there alone
she sought favor and acceptance. When leaning
on bis arm, her slender form contrnsed finely
with his tall manly person. The fond confidins
air with which she looked up to him seemed &c
call forth flush of triumphant pride and cher
ishing tenderness, as if he doated on his Lowell,
Lurthen for its very helplessness. Never did
couple set forward on the iiowry path of earl,
and well-suted marriage with faireT prospect o
felicity.
1t was the misfortune of my friend, however
to have embarked his property in large specula
tons and he had not been married many months
when, by q succession of sudden disasters il wa
swept from him, and he found himself reduced t
almost penury. For time he kept his situation
to himself and went about with haggard coun
tenance, and a breaking heart. His life was bu
n protructed agony; and what rendered it NOR
nsupportable was the necessity of keeping up
smile in the presence Of his wife E; Tor he coul
not bring himself 10 overwhelm her with iii
news She saw, however, with the quick eyes
affection, tina; all was not well With him. Sl
marked his altered ouks and stifed signs, and wa
not 10 be deceived by his sickly and vapd atlemp
at cheerfulnes-. She tasked all her spright
powers aud tender Establishments 10 win hin
back 10 huppiuess; she only drove the AFRO,
deeper into his soul. The more he saw cause ,
love her, the more toruring was the thought III;
he was soOn to make her wretched. A little wh
thought he, and the smile will vanish from thi
cheek the song will die away from those lips
the lusre OF those eyes will be quenched wit
sorrow-,he happy heart which now beats light
in that bosom, VIII be weighed down, like min
10y the cares and mseries OF the world.
AT length he came TO me one day, and relate
his whole situation in a tone OF the deepest d
spair When heard him through, | Inquire
Does your wife know all this ? Al the questio
he burst INTO an agony of tears For Gods sake
cried lie, 1T you have any pity on me, don't men
ton my wife; il is the thought Of her that aI.no
drives me TO madnessp
And why not? said |. she must know
sooner or later you cannot keep long from he
and the Intelligence may break upon her in mo
startling manner than if impaired by yourself; f
the accents Of those we love soften the harshe
tidings. Besides, you are depriving yourself
the comforts of her sympathy and not mere
that, but also endnngerng the only bond that ca
keep hearts togeter-an uDresrrved communIt
of thought aud feeling, She will soon percei,
that something is secretly preymg upon your mind
and true love will not brook reserve it feels VI
dervalued and outraged, when even The sorrow
Of those 1t loves are concealed from it,
oh, but my friend 10 think what blow al
to give to all her future prospects how | am
strike her very soul to the earth, by telling ht
that her husband is a beggar that she is 10 for
go all the elegancles of lteall the pleasures of 81
clety-to shrink with me into indigence and oil
security 10 tell her that ] have dragged h,
down from the sphere in which she might ha,
continued 10 move in constant brghness-tl
light OF every eye-the admiration OF every hear
How can she bear poverty She has been brougl
up in all the rehnemens of opulencc. How ca
she bear neglect? She has been the idol of soc
ETY.. Oh, 1t will break her hcart--it viii break he
heart!
saw his grief was eloquent aud let it ha,
its flow; Tor sorrow relieves itself by words.
When his paroxysm had subsidized, and he had n
lapsed into moody silence, resumed The subje
gently, and urged HIM to break his situation
once TO his wife. He shook his heud mouniull
but positively.
'But how are you to keep it from her? 1t
necessary she should know it, that you may TAX
the steps proper to the alteration of your circun
stances. You must change your style of livu