The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-05
Evening Before Marriage.
Translated from the German Of Zschokks.

"We shall certainly be very happy togeth-
er, said Louisa TO her aunt OH the evening be-
fore her marriage, and her cheeks glowed
with deeper red, and her eyes shone with
delight When the bride SAYS we il may
easily be guessed whom ofall persons in the
world she means thereby.
II do not doubt it, dear Louisa" replied
her aunt, "see that you only continue happy
together"
'sOh, VINO can doubt that we shall conIln-
Tie so! know myself, have taults indeed,
but my love for him will correct them. And
so long as we love each other we cannot be
unhappy. Our love will never grow cold"
"Alas!" sighed her aunt. "thou dost speak
like maiden of nineteen, on the day OF her
marriage, in the intoxIcatOn OF wishes full
filled, OF fair hopes and happy omeus. Dear
child, remember ihis-eren The heart iH time
grolcs cold. Days will come when the magic
of senses shall fade. And when this enchant-
ment has fed. then IT first becomes evident
whether we are truly worthy of love. When
custom has made familiar the charms that
are most attractive, when youthful freshness
has died away, and with brightness of DO
nestle life. more aud more shadows have
mingled, then, Louisa and not till then, can
the wife say OF the husband, He IS worthy
OF love-: then tirst.the husband can say OF the
wife, She blooms in lmperlshable beauty,
But truly, on the day before marriage, such
assertions sound laughable TO me-
II understand you, dearuunt. You would
say that mutual virtues alone can N later
years give us worth for each other. But Is
not he TO whom / am to belong-tOr myself
! can boast nothing bur the best intentions
is lac not the worthIest, noblest OF all young
men OF the city? Blooms not in his soul ey-
cry virtue that tends to make life happy"
My child replied the aunt. grant II.
Virtue blooms in thee as well as III him;
can say this to thee without tiattery. But,
dear heart, they bloom only and are not yet
ripened beneath the suns heat and shower.
No blossoms deceive the expectations more
than these. We can never tell in what soil
they have taken root. Who knows the con-
cealed depths Ofthe heart"
All. dear aunt, you brighten me-"
$50 much the better sLoulsa. such fear
is right; such fear is as it should be on the G.
veniug before marriage. love thee tender
ly, and will therefore declare all my thoughts
on this subject without disguise. ! am not
as vet an old aunt. At seven and twenty
years one still looks forward into life with
pleasure. the world still presents n bright side
to us. have an excellent husband. am
happy Therefore have right to speak
thus TO thee, and to call thy attention TO Sc
creG which perhaps thou dost not yet know,
one which is not often spoken otto young
and pretty maiden, one indeed which does
not generally occupy the thoughts OF young
man, and still is OF the utmost importance III
every household; a secret from which alone
springs lasting love, unalterable happiness.
Louisa seized the hand OF her aunt Ill Doth
of hers.
dear aunt you know believe you IN eV-
cry thing You mean that enduring happi-
ness and lasting love are not insured TO us by
accidental qualities, by fleeing charms, but
only those virtues ofthe mind which we bring
to each other These are the best dowry
which we can possess; these never become
old"
"As il happens, Louisa, the virtues, also.
like the beauties otthe body, can grow ola
and become repulsive and hateful with age.
"How dearest aunt what is it you say!
Name me a virtue which can become hate
full with years"
when they have become 80 we no longer
call them virti1es as a beautiful maiden can
no longer be called beautiful when time has
changed her to an old and wrinkled woman.
''But aunt. the virtues are nothing earthly"
''Perhaps."
GLOW can gentieness and nlldness ever
become hatetul!"
$50 soon as they degenerate into inslpId in
doence and istlessness."
"And manly courage:"
becomes imperous rudeness.'
''And modest ditfidence!'
Turns to tawuing humility"
'And noble pride?"
"To vuI gar haughtiness."
"A readiness TO ohlige?"
becomes habit oftoo ready friendship
and servility."
"Dear aunt. you make me almost angry
Nv future husband can never degenerate
thus. lie has one virtne which will preserve
him forever rs he is. A deep sense and al