The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-06-07
ny WASHINGTON IRVING.


have speculated great deal upon matri-
mony. l have seen young and beautiful wo-
men. the pride Of gay circles, married-as the
world says-well. Some have moved into
costly houses, and their friends have all come
and looked at their fine furniture and their
splendid arrangements for happiness, and they
have gone away and committed them to their
sunny hopes cheerfully and without fear. 1t
Is natural TO be sanguine for the young. and at
such times | am carried away BY similar feel
lngs. llove TO get unobserved into corner,
and watch the bride in her white attire, and
with,her smiling face and her soa eyes moving
before mein their pride oflife, weave waking
dream Of her future happiness. and persuade
myself that II will be true. think how they
will sit upon the luxurious sofa as the twilight
falls, and build gay hopes. and murmur in low
tones the now forbidden tenderness; and how
thrillingly the allowed kiss, and the beautiful
endearments Of welded life, will make even
their parting joyous, 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 bushes even
now'at his hestating caress, listening eagerly
for bis footsteps as the night steals on, and
wishing that he would come and when he en-
ters at last, and. with an affection as undying
as his pulse, folds her 10 bis bosom / can feel
the tide that goes flowing through the heart,
and gaze with him on that graceful form as she
moves about for the kind Offices Of affection,
soothing all his unquiet cares, and making him
forget even himself in her young and unshad-
owed beauty.
90 forward for years. and see her luxu-
rant hair put soberly away from her brow,
aud her girlish gracos ripen into dignity. and
bright loveliness chastened with the gentle
meekness Of maternal affection. Her husband
looks on her with proud eye. and shows her
the same fervent love and delicate attentions
which first won her, and her fair children are
growing abou. them, and they 90 on full of
honor and untroubled years, and are remem-
when they die.
say love to dream thus when 90 TO
give the young bride JOY. II is the natural
tendency Of feeling, touched by loveliness. that
fears nothing for itself; and if ever yield to
darkened feelings, it is because the light Of the
picture is changed. am not fond Of dwell
ing upon such changes, and will not minute
" now. | allude to it only because | trust
that my simple page will be read BY some of
the young and beautiful beings who daily move
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 pc
culiar. II is colored like the fancies Of the
bride and many, oh many an 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 while
undeceived. Tho evening is nottoo long while
they talk Of plans for happiness, and the quiet
meal Is still pleasant and delightful novelty
Of mutual reliance and attention. There
comes. s0ou, however. time when personal
topics become bare and wearisome. and slight
attentions will not alone keep up the social
excitement. There are long intervals of ST.
lenco. and detected symptoms OF WEAKNESS
and the husband, first in bis manhood, breaks
IN uoon the hours they we're won't to spend
together cannot follow it circumstantiallY.
There comes long hours of unhappy restless
ness, and terrible misgivings Of each other :
worth and affection. till. by and BY, they can
conceal their uneasiness no longer, and 60 out
senarately 70 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 10.
nocent beauty, the affection Of high-minded
and thinking beings. Remember that he will
rive no the brother Of bis heart, with whom
he has had even fellowship OF mind, the so.
cietv of his cotemporary runners in the race OF
fsms who have held with him stern CON-
panionship and frequently, in his passionate
love. he will break away from the arena Of
his burning ambition, to come to listen 10 the
voice oftbe charmer' IL will bewilder him
Ar first but Il will not long. And then, think
von that an idle Establishment will change
mind that has been used, for years, toan equal
communion! Think you he will give up for
a weak dallianco, the animating themes o.
nan and the search into the mysteries oi
LnowledOe9 Oh, no, lady believe me, no
Trust not your influence to such light letters
crsd;t not the old-fashioned absurdity, that
,vonan's Is secondary lot, ministeringto TO the
necessities of her lord and master. Ii youl
Immortality Is as complete and your glit o.
mind a. capable as ours, would put no Wis.
dorn % of mine against Gods allotment. would
oSaroe S. = Won 10 water the undying bud and give
Il a healthy culture, and open Its beauty e
tbe sun: and then you may hope that, when
a.- l;fa i hound with another, you will e
on equally, and in a fellowship that Shail per-
wade every earthly interest.