Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-12-30
NUMBER A.

tent gentleman reader may think | might
here conclude, but even these are no, all
the signs Of a good husband, on which We
have TO insist-such a me will be careful,
after marriage, not to discontinue those
little attentions and couriesies which, in
the aggregate, constitute in a great mea-
sure the business and happiness Of the con.
jugal state.
Any abatement of the ardor which AMI.
mates the lover, the considerate husband
VIII make up by tender and respectful
watchfulness over all the smaller items Of
conJugal intercourse which may contrib
ute to her personal comfort, or crafty
any innocent popularity of his wife's dis.
position. And does any man expect
does any intelligent husband wish, to have
a wife devoid Of peculiar tastes and pro-
pensities? Ii so, and his object is to have
all the talking to himself, while she can
barely say "check, "--lei him go for such
an automa.on. wife, to the Prince of Con-
iurors-old Maelzei himself! Some wretch
ed misery husbands there are who, neg
lecting essential things, go about poking
their noses and prying in kitchens and
closets, where they have no business med
ding with things with which they have
no concern; but n Of good taste will be
at no loss to distinguish between that out
Of place oficiousness and familiarity which
breeds disgust in every walk Of life, and
those considerable and grateful civilities
and little complaisances which are more
felt than seen-say in handing her a chair,
or q glass of water, in adjusting her stir
rup when she rides, in reading TO amuse
her at her knitting, in making her pens or
turning over her music-sbove all, the
good husband will never forget, that il
I" time which steals our years away"
steals away all those charms which be
was won't to admire and praise, there is
the stronger obligation of honor and hu.
manity to make up to her for the less of
these, by increased kindness and assidai.
ty. VIVA, though lime may have scatter
ed the roses that once doomed on her
cheek-what though care and sickness
may have dimmed the lustre of her eye,
and broken the spirit that once bore her,
full Of grace and beauty through the ma.
zy dance-is that the time that a good
husband will relax in his devotions aud
show signs Of neglect to her whom he has
vowed to cherish in sickness and in health1
No! No! MOI Then it is that his heart
will more and more faithfully echo the
sentiment of the poet in his beautiful com.
/ narIcnu nj frna tnyn IN tho ct,n AnuvA. q
" 1t is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofan'd by a tear,
That the isrvor and faith OF a soul can be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear
Oh! the heart that has truly lov,d never forge,s,
But as truly loves on to the close
As the sun-nower turns on her god when he sets.
The same look which she turn'd when he rose"
And now, Mr.. Editor, lest some Of your
young readers may be of opinion that my
criterlons Of a "good husband' are too
severe, and thence conclude tina. il is bet
ter to try the chances Of celibacy than to
attempt to come up TO my standard, let
me submit the reflections OF a wise man
on the condition Of him who makes up his
mind TO breathe, | will not say to live.
the life Of a bachelor -" They dream
away their time without friendship, with.
out fondness, and are driven to rid them
selves of the day, for which they have no
use. by childish amusements or vicious
delights. They act as being under the
constant sense oil some known inleriority.
that fills :heir minds with rancour and
their tongues with censure. They are
perverse at home and malevolent abroad !;
and as the outlaws Of human nature, mnko
it their business and their pleasure TO dis.
turb that society which debars them from
its privileges. To live without feeling or
exciting sympathy, TO be fortunate with
out adding TO the felicity OF others, or az.
flicted without tasting the balm Of pity, is
a state more gloomy than solitude il is
not retreat, but exclusion from mankind.
Marriage has many pains, but celibacy
has no pleasures! :"
J. S. 8.