Minnesota weekly times., 1854-06-13
WOMAN AND MARRIAGE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

7 have snacula.cda great deal upon matrlmony.
7 have seen Young and beautiful women, the pride
of CAV circles married as the world says-weli!
Some have moved into costly houses, and their
friends have all come and looked at their hne FUR
niturc and their splendid arrangements Tor happl-
ness and they have gone away and committed
them to their sunny hopes cheerfuly and without
fear. 1t is natural to be sanguine for the young,
and ut such times am carried away by similar
feelings. l love to get unobserved INTO corner,
and watch the bride in her white attire, and with
her smiling face and her soft eyes moving before
mo in their pride Of life, weave waking dream
of her future happiness, ndpersuade myself that
it will be true-I think how they will sit upon the
luxurious sofa as the twilight falls, and build gay
hopes and murmur in low tones the now unfor-
bidden tenderness; and how thrilling the allowed
kiss, and the beautiful endearments of welded
life. will make even their partings joys, and how
gladly come back from the crowd and the empty
mirth of the gay to each others quiet company.
picture to myself that young creature who blush
es even now at his hestating carcss, listening
eagerly for his footsteps as the night steals on,
and wishing he would come and when he enters
at last and, with affection as undvlng as ms
pulse. folds her to his bosom, can feel the tide
20 flowing through the heart, and gaze with him
on that graceful form as she moves about Tor the
kind offices Of affection, soothing all his unquiet
cares, and making him forget even himself in her
young unshadowed beauty.
90 forward for years, and see her luxuriant
hair nut soberlv from her brow, and her girlish
eraces ripen into dignity, and bright lovelincss
chastened with the gentle meekness of material
affection. Her husband looks on her with proud
eve, shows her the same fe:vent love and delicate
attentions which first her, and her fair child
rem are growing about them, and they 60 on full
of honor and untroubed years, and are remem
bered when they die!
say love to dream thus when go to give the
young bride iov. 1t is the natural tendency of
feeling touched by loveliness, that fears nothing
for itself: and if | Weld to darkened feelings, 1t
is because the light of the picture is changed. |
am not fond of dwelling upon such changes, and
| will not minutely now. | allude to it only be-
cause trust that my simple page will be read by
some of the Young and beautiful beings who dali
" move across my path and would whisper to
them as they glide by joyously and confidently,
the secret of an unclouled future.
The picture have drawn above is not peculiar.
It is colored like the fanc!es of the bride, and
many. oh many hour will she sit with her
rich jewels lying loosely in her fingers, and dream
such dreams as these. She believes them, too
and she goes on a while undeceivcd. The evening
is not too long while they talk of plans for hap
piness and the quiet meals is still pleasant and
delightful novelty of mutual reliance and atten-
ton. There comes soon, however, time when
personal topics become rare AMI wearisOme, and
Slight attentions will not alone keep up the social
and detected symptoms of WEAKNESS, and the
husband, first in his manhood, breaks in upon the
hours they were wont to spend together. l can
not follow it circumstantaly. There come along
hours of unhappy rcstlessness, and terrible mis-
givngs of each others worth and affection, til,
bv and by they can conceal their uneasiness no
longer, and 20 out separately to seek relief and
lean upon the hollow world for the support which
one who was their lover and friend could not give
them!
Heed this, We who are winning by your innocent
beauty the affection of high minded thinking be-
ings. Remember that he will give up the brother
of his heart. with whom he has had even fellow
ship of mind, the society of his cotemporary rum
ners in the race of fame. who have held with him
a stern companionship; and frequently, in his
passionate love, he will break away from the arena
"voice of the charmer.'' 1t will bewilder him
at first but it will not long. And then think you
that an idle Establishment will change mind that
has been used for years, to an equal communion?
Think you he will give up weak dalliance, the
the mysteries of knowledge? Oh, no, lady be-
lievc me, no. Trust not your influence to such
light letters Credit not the old fashioned absur-
to the necessities of her lord and master. Is not
Your Immortality complete and your gift of
mind as capable ours? would put no wisdom
of mine against Gods allotment. would charge
you to water the undyng bud, and give it healthy
culture, and open its beauty to the sun and then
YOU may hope that. when your life is bound with
another, you will go equally, and in a fellow
ship that shall peryadc every earthly interest.