Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-30
The wife.
80 what delight to struggle side by side" :.
s'Wth one loved soothcr up the steep 10 guide"
nHer faithful steps-u urshrinking from the thorn!o


per regard 10 her disposition, and proper respect
t., her sensibiIiies,apart from considerations mere.
-Iy affecting her personal condition, ,haugtl thest
loo should have his care, that gives towhat MAJ
he called the fifth act Of the drama Of welded HE
a hulier and happier influence than memory, dis.
pused as she is 10 gild the past can find to EN-
beIisl, the scenes in WHICH y is cnunnonly sup
posed the torch Of iiymen burns brightest. There
is fuIlsess Of enjoyment in that entire identity
of interests, pursuits and, feeies, II is possible 10
establish in ths'sacred co partnership; iou waicl
there comes, but one qualifying consideration -lhe
reflection that it must bave an end and even this
carries sweet conviction with it, in promise be
yond the grave, forit is difficult TO imagine thai
He who gives poibing jns vain, VIII permit his
choicest blessing 1.-The heart aileciiosaie action
10 perish wiihtihe sphere in which il hasibeen 81
delishtfullyesereised. A contrary opinion IS as
na,uralto US as 10 breathe as much paftofus as
that hearts emotion as thoroughly engraited in
US as the consciousness Of immortality, To- which
itimparts its most precious anlicpainns.o II is
the stay of the loiferer on life's scene. when
friends. kindred, and companions, have left him
it forms portion, and large portion. Of his hope
in the life which is 10, come. II speopled the
beautiful Elysum Of the Pagan. il prevails, ,des.
pite hisllmitalons Of Divine goodness, in the
breast of The Christian. II makes the, Indians
heaven. It's natnres creed. IL is to husband,
wife, parent, children and friend what the words
of our blessed Saviour were TO the sister of Laza-
rus. ."Ele sleepeth, but he will rise agajnp-not
TO forget you ;norin sensibilify to earthly connec
lions NOT dead to affections that give foretaste OF
heavea, an -butrenewed,n mot metainorphos
ed purified, but; unchanged a creature still ;
blending with service and alteration Of It's Maker,
the practice and fruion Of those less sscred. bnt
not less cherished attachments Of which 1t was
capable here. and which may become only more
pure and more constant hereafter, 1t heaven be
The sphere for the full development and epjoyment
of love, our first lessons in this requirement.
is to survive all others have been taught US here;
and are we to forget the classmates who have
shared and !ighlened our tolls in the difficulties
of initiation. or been our companions in the pleas
ant holydays of our pupilage? AS meo, we love
to revive the associations Of boyhood and preserve
the sentiment, though the circumstances OF early
connection be broken. As angels. If such be nnr
high destiny hereafter, it is dificult to imagine,
and. NAV we not add. painful to believe, our ma
lures will be SO changed that those who taught US
to love will be excluded from our companmship.
and denied participation in the happiness of our
reward -our fellow laburers in the field of toll
become strangers in the jubilee of harvest. To
nv mind. to think and hope Otherwise takes from
bereavement its pang. and gives to virtue its in
ceniiye. II encourages me to open my heart to
its full capacity for loving To gather within 1t,
all that is worthy--not merely TO cheat and a
muse the feeiing and perisliable moments ttllne.
but TO share with mo my portion IN eternlty-to
rejoice with me if il be blessed; to console me if
it be otherwise, with the consciousness that sym
pathies which sustained me here are 10 be as enJur
inc as the lut that awaits me hereafter. Mine be
the reflection that "cogenial spirits part 10 meet
again" 93al
We have spoken Of welded life as a drama,
and of lis fifth act as rendered more engaging than
i,s an,ecedents, by The impulse the faithful ac
compshment of the part assigned us therein, has
uiyeu TO its heroine We have imagined her
more lovely in the closing scenes. which indicate
the catastrophe and point the mora than when
the curtain rose, and she appeared, in youth and
beauty and personal grace, befre admirlng spec,
talors, an uniried actress in the character Of WIFE,
We might pursue the metaphor and trace her
from the trembling neophyte on the proscenlnm,
from the responsibilities she has engag-
ed in, through the various stages OF her perform
ance, conspicuous among the dramGiis perSonOe on
the boards until the curtain falls again. and plau-
dts proclaim her success. But we are aware
that beyond the point we have assumed in the
outset OF onr undertaking our allegory cannot be
sustained for uther and nobler qualities and high
er and holier inducements are required ID the dis
charge of substantial duties, than those which Oh
tain renown in the presentations of fiction. The
loving faithful and enduring wife has other than
imaginary woe to her allotment, and 10 feel, en-
cuunter. conquer or conceal lis pangs is surely
more difficult than 10 represent them. To the
silent and solitary home of real afflicion there
comes not the solace ofapplause that attends sue
cessful eff5ft 10 portray il, and tears which dim
the eyes of actual suffering spring from another
and bilierer fountain than that which art supplies
to weep by rule. Pride may wound and rivalry
may vex the candidate for public favor, but the
morlifcalions of fNpght may baforgniten in the
trinmphs of io-lnorrow whereas, tp the patient
wife The trials of the day are but preudes 10 other
demands on her virtue, and her conquests trng
no consultations of fame. The popular actress has
partners in her mimic joy, sharers ln her affec
ted sorrow. The secluded wife and rnouratu
mother knows but one earthly bosom on which Il
repose her grefs and that is, perhaps, rejoicing
with some comic hoyden,or pouring forth It's cum
passion with some tragic queen, unmindful, in tht
flow of Fictitious sentiment, of her who is long
ing for sympathy aud encouragement in positive
evil at home. Truly, the Votaress Of. Thespi'
affords M parallel for the heroine Of private life
for though she may suffer as vile and moibe
herself. she has her moments Of exultation ant
her hours of fatlered repreve to make herto for
pet for a season The cares of the household, !, tht
cradle and the board-her Indifferent partner an,
neglestiul guide. - ~
But, from the dark traits Of this picture, W,
turn to The bright, as they shine through tin
cheerful window of some happy homestead, From
the cherished wife within. blessed with her has
bands unabated love, and her offSprlng's regard
the blaze from tho domestic hearth which 'ilight
the wintry paradise of home," imparing to he
features yluw which mucis the reflection of tn
tootlghis on the triumphant puppet of the stage
The rose may have left her cheek and lines G
.hought be planting furrows on her brow, but he
eve is bright with natural and delightful expires
sion. and her lips quver with grateful and atfec
tionate utterance. f1ers is>nol the purchased ap
plause an ungraceful attitude or false enunciati0
NAV forfeit but she sits secure in conscious de
sert, and her recompense is beyond the reach @
accident or caprice. Her very infrnilies Of bod
and declensions Of mind only make her the NOR
beloved, for they point to the time when he
memory will be all that is to leftus.and remindal
fecton of debt that never can be cancelled. Sh
is the centre round which reyolve the. lesse
nlanets of the domestic system-the fountain /.
their light the source Of their vivifcation; an
thew feel that when she is stricken from he
sphere, attraction will cease. and they move i
ether and less delightful orbits. What wvnde
then that anxious looks follow her in her dali
round; that prayers tor her welfare respond to be
retiring blessing, and that the first eager desir
of morning is fur the heathfnl music OF that voic
which, though soft and subdued, penelrates I
every heart, and regulates every emotion.
hat then is his responsibility 10 whom Prov
dence has delegated influence over such natur
as this J.? What his condemnation who has nil
used it, and substituted tor SO glorious compos
ton, ruin? What heaven befting him WI
has desecraied lis prototype on earth? VIII;