Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-11-05
WOMEN AND MARRIAGE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.


matrimony. | have seen young and beau
tiful women, the pride of gay circles, mar
'ried-as the world says--well F! Some
have moved into costly houses, and their
friends have all come and looked at Their
fine furniture and their splendid arrange
ments for happiness, and they have gone
away and committed them to their sunny
hopes cheerfully and without fear. 1t is
natural 10 be sanguine for the young, and
at such times | am carried away by simi-
lar feelings. love to get unobserved in
10 a corner watch the bride in her white
attire, and with her smiling face and her
soft eyes moving before me in their pride
of life, weave a waking dream Of her flu
ture happiness, and persuade myself that
ii will be true. think how they will sit
upon the luxurious sofa as the twilight
fades, and build gay hopes, and murmur
In low tones the now unforbdden tender
ness, and how thrilling the allowed kiss,
and the beautiful endea rments Of welded
mt, will make even their parting Joyous.
and how gladly come back from lha crowd
Ind the empty mirth Of the gay to each
others company. Ipicture to myself that
young creature, who bushes even now at
his hesitating caress, listening eagerly
for his footsteps as the night steals on, and
wishing that he would come; and when he
enters at last, and, with an affection as
undying as his pulse, folds her to his bo-
som, can feel the very tide that goes
flowing through his heart, and gaze with
him on her graceful form as she moves a
bout him for the kind offices of affection,
soothing all his unquiet cares, and making
him forget even himself in her young and
unshadowing beauty.
90 forward Tor years, and see her lux
urient hair put soberly away from her
brow, and her girlish graces rpening into
dignity, and her bright loneliness chasten.
ed with the gentle meekness OF maternal
affection. Her husband looks on her with
a proud eye. and shows her the same fer
vent love and the delicate attentions which
first won her, and tair children are grow
ing about them, and they go on full OF hon.
or and troubled years, and are remember
ed when they die!
( say | loye TO dream thus when | 60 to
give the young bride joy. |: is the natu-
raj tendency Of feeling touched by love-
lness, that fears nothing for itself, and if
lever yield to darker feelings, it is be-
cause the light Of the picture is changed.
La not fond Of dwelling upon such chan
ges, and will not, infinitely now. al.
1uded to il only because | trust that my
simpIe page will be read by some young
and beautiful beings who move daily across
my path, and would whisper TO them, as
they glide by joyously and confidently, the
secret of an unclouded future.
The picture have drawn above is not
peculiar. 1t is colored like the fancies of
ihe bride; and many, oh! many an hour
will she sit, with her rich Jewels lying
bose in her fingers, and dream such
dfeams as these. She believes them too
and she goes on for while, undeceived,
The evening is not too long while they
Sfalk Of plans for happiness, and the quiet
meal is still pleasant and delightful novel
~ of mutual reliance and attention.
There comes soon, however, a time when
personal topics become bare and weari.
some, and slight attentions will not alone
Keep up the social excitement. There
are long intervals of silence, and detected
symptoms OF WEAKNESS, and the husband,
hrst, in his manhood, breaks in upon the
hours they we're to spend together. can
not follow it circumstontiaIly. There
come long hours of unhappy restlessness,
and terrible misgivings Of each others
worth and affection, till, by and by, they
ian conceal their uneasiness no longer,
and 60 out separately to seek relief, and
lean upon the hollow world for the support
Which ore who was their loverand friend
fould not give them!
Heed this, ye who are winning by your
Innocent beauty, the affections Of high
blinded and thinking beings! Remember
zfbat he ILL -. . a 80,