Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-05-06
THE WIFES FIRST GRIEF
BY ]. R. CHANDLER.


last9 What will occur to disturb the happi-
ness which is now vouchsafed! | never had
animal to which was particularly attached
and never had ore, from cat to horse, to
which was not strongly attached that |
did not occasionally pause in my use or car.
esses of it, and ask, "What will occur to
deprive me of it--accident escape, or DEATH
In the midst of social enjoyneI,b when tie
duty of sustaining the amusement or the con.
versation has devolved upon another, how Of
ten will the inquiry arrise, "How long will
this last~ No sign oEsppture is presented. no
token Of dissolution IS observable, but there
must be rupture, there will be dissolution,
How will it come, and whens
lconfess that such anticipations are not al
ways the evidence of a well balanced mind:
too often they come from Il morbid state OF
feeling, that frequently produces the very evils
they suggest. The anticipation of evil is not
so much the result Of unhappy experience, as
the consequence of want Of self.sustaining
power.
Years ago, it was my chance to be near
young woman at the moment on which she
was taking leave Of lover She stood a mo-
ment and watched his departure, until by turn
ing corner he was concealed from her sight.
"Can it last9" SAID she to herself-"And why
not? if he loves me now, when my station,
and consequently my manners are less desir-
able than his, surely he must love me more
when have had the advantage of his assocl.
alton, and have consequently improved by that
intercourse" passed onwards. heard
no other worde, but her steps indicated e heart
at ease, or if disturbed, it was the commotion
of inexpressible pleasure.
"Can it last? and if not, when will it talE
How will this diminution manifest itselfF'
These were queries which often arose in my
mind, as I thought of the approaching nup-
tals. And once. few days after the mar
riage, saw her leaning against the trunk OF
tree which was then in full blossom. She
was evidently connecting her own new estate
with the lovely hopefulness of the branches
al owe her, and as she raised her eyes again,
it was evident that she was thinking of the fu-
ture which was radiant with hope. For one
moment cloud seemed to pass over her face;
it was rather doubt than pain
She looked again at the tree and its n'nnih.
cencc OF bloom; the cloud passed from her
face, and she came away in evident delight
That was spring of disappointment as re.
member; frost destroyed the early vegetation,
and entirely ruined the blossoms on the tree at
which she had been looking No fruit was
borne.
1t was, apprehend, my own inirmity that
led me to think more of changes which might
come across the path of the newly married
person, than any thing in her condition; for,
though subsequently, saw where the danger
lurked, yet there was with me only the fore
shadowng Of somewhat morbid sensibility,
coptrived to anticipate enough to make the
present gloomy with apprehension of the fin
ture So | watched. Blessed be the race of
croakers, whose stomachs are constantly con-
iuring up a cloud to darkeu their minds, and
who are too unselfish to let any one pass with.
out the benefit of their overshadowing forebo.
dings I watched this case for the first ex.
clamation which have recorded Of this young
woman had touched chord of melancholy in
my own disposition, and so was anxious to
see how long it would last; how long the peace
Joy and domestic felicity would continue 1t
did not seem to ME that the disturbance could
originate with her.
The husband was fond of amusemcnts and
he kept and used good gun and some well
trained dogs. But though these drew him oc-
casionally from his home, yet the fine disposi'
ton of the wife found in the dumb but sagacons
companions of her husband, objects ofregard.
She learned, to like them, and as became their
gentle nature, they loved her, joyed in her ca
resses, and seemed to have a sober resalve to
watch her safety, and to secure it even at the
cost of their lives confess that was disap-
pointed at this, having anticipated that the lit
ter of dogs would have disturbed the eqnanimity
cf the wife, and thus have provoked reprisal
from the husband.
1t was not long before some eveut-l think
it was the ordinary result OF Security" the
miserable pride oftrying to make ones self con-
siderable in jeopardising the peace and COM
fort of family by going Security tor man,
in whom others could not have had confidence.
or they would not have asked security"-that
swept from the husband considerable portion
of the property which had made his condition
better than the wife's before marriage
"And here" said |, 'it will cease to last
| hope that my feelings were of the right kind;
think now that they were only those of curl
osity. Some people seem to desire an evil that
they have foretold--I think only desired to
know how the loss of property was to affect
the wife.
Her husband was the first to tell her Of the
misfortune.
81 am sorry, my DEAR" said tho quiet wife,
"sorrv indeed. II will compel you to do much