Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-04-08
rop THE AMERICAN.
Thoughts on Love.

There are many kinds Of love, and the passion.
whether !, he called love, friendship, gratitude, or
esteem, seems TO be as natural 10 humankind az
any Of the other propensi'ies of the mind. lhe
love which children bear towards their parents and
near relatives. arises, probably, from gratitude.
Parents are continually bestowng favors upon their
offspring from their youth up. and supplying their
every want. Hence, the cause Of that devoted at-
tschmcnt which children manifest towards their
parents.
Friendship has frequently proved so strong as to
cause one friend to lay down his life for another
But there is no kind of love interesting to COM
template and so strange in the phenomena il ex-
blits. as the love which exists between the sexes.
II NAV he an animal feeling, a first, in many cases.
But, on acquaintance, these subside, and give
place to such as ore more pure and exalted. Upon
reflection, no one can doubt but that there does
often exist pure affection that "regardirg the mind
only, and its excellencies." Though it is impossi-
bic that there can be Pstonic Love eat first sight,
vet. as soon as one is intimately acquainted with
the object of his affections, may he not become en-
tirely enamoured with her mental per'ections
This conclusion is fca .onable. That there can be
n second love as pure as the frs, is impossible.
Let this flame be true and sincere, and time, nor
space, nor sbssnce can entirely efface 1t from the
memory. 1t may be forgotten for awhile; but
there are moments when the niud WILL involun'
tarily, recur to what it once held mos, dear, and
indulge in melancholy reflections which carry the
,h bae hep 4.
How mysterious the sentiment that fasens mind
TO mind so strongly that the lover bchods not the
faults of his mistress, looks upon them with pre-
JUDGED eyes, and in the same manner as he views
his own fsilings. They appear to him as pardona.
bic, or even lovely. Self love induces one to es>
te.m himself the whole, little better than Others
and he regards many of his faults os real virtues.
Love makes him view his beloved in the same
partial light. This has always been the case, and,
no doubt, it is happy thing for mankind that it
is so. 1t requires much perseverance, and many
mental struggles to resist and discred, all the in-
situations thrown out, hy friends, to the prejudice
Of the Lowell one. Hence, this peculiarly of the
mind, this proneness to overlook faults, keeps the
lover from dosing confidence in his beloved, with
out Just cause. II prevents too much reliance be.
ing placed upon the reports OF meddlers and in,
terested friends. This blind confding love, view
ed in all the situations of life, is one Of the most
noble traits Of human nature. What a strong
feeling it is that induces young lady to leave a
comfortable home, kind parents, and affec,iona,e
brothers and sisters, and, frequently, all the con-
veniences Of fe for the sake Of the one she ndores
Though he proves himself unworthy such ardent
attachment, we find her still willing to follow his
fortunes, and TO attend him in health or sickness
in wealth or poverty, through good report and evil
report, The wife Of the incbnale often proves
herself an angel. She possesses love too pure for
can be insensihle to such devoted attachment
The more he abuses and uamples upon the partner
of his life, the more she to overlook his fail
ings and his cruelies. She is the last one to a
bandon him.
Enough has been written love, Platonic
Love, love at first sight first, second, and third
love, love after marriage, towards parents, friends
and relations, to fill volumes. 1t is a most pro,
life subject for conversation, and always e1cites an
interest. When the conversation becomes inani
mate, broach this subject, and all will instantly
arouse from their lehsrey, "Prick up their ears,
and sh w signs of returning animation. A.C.
Sunbury, March 90, ls43.