Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-01
CH9ICR LITERATURE.
T H E W I F E .
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.


The treasures Of the deep are not precious
AS are all the concealed comforts Of man
Locked up in woman's love. l scent the air
OF blessing, when / come but near the house.
WHAT adelciousb breath marriage sends forth,
The violets bed not sweeter. MID.
have often had occasion to remark the
fortitude with which woman sustains the
most overwhelming reverses of fortune
Those disasters which break down the spir-
it of a man and PROSTATE him in the Gust,
seem to call forth all the energies of the
softer sex, and take such intrepidity and
elevation to their character that at times it
approaches to sublimity. Nothing can be
more touching than to behold soft and
tender female who has been all weakness
and dependence, and alive to every trivial
roughness, while treading the prosperous
path Of life, suddenly rising in mental force
to be the comforter and supporter of her
husband under misfortune, and abiding,
with unshrinking frmness, the bitterest
blast of adversely.
AS the vine, which has long twined its
graceful foliage about the oak, and been
lifted by it into sunshine, will, when the
hardy plant is riven by the thunderbolt,
cling round it with its caressing tendrils,
and bind up its shattered boughs; so it is
beautifully ordained by Providence, that
woman, who is the mere dependant and Or
nament of man in his happier hours, should
be his stay and solace when smitten with
sudden calamity, winding herself into the
rugged recesses of his name, tenderly sup
porting his dropping head, and binding up
the broken heart
was congratulating a friend who had
around him blooming family, knit togeth-
er in the strongest affection. 81 wish you
had no better lot" said he with enthusi
asm, "than to have wife and children
If you are prosperous, there they are tC
share your prosperity if otherwise, there
they are to comfort you" And, indeed
| have observed that married man fallin|
into misfortune is more apt to retrieve hi
situation in the world than single one
partly, because he is more stimulated
exertion by the necessities of the helples
and beloved beings who depend upon hir
for subsistence-but chiefly because hi
spirits are soothed and relieved by domes
tic endearments, and his self-respect keI
alive by finding, that although all abroa
is darkness and humiliation, yet there
still little world of love at home, of whic
he is the monarch. Whereas, sing
man is apt to run to waste and self-neglec
to fancy himself lonely and abandone,
and his heart to fall to ruin like some
serted mansion for want of an inhabitant
These observations call to mind lit
4 8 /
ness. My intimate friend, Leslie, ha
married u beautiful and accomplished your
girl, who had been brought up in IL
midst of fashionable life She had, it
true, no fortune, but that Of my friend W
ample aud he delighted in the anticip
tion of indulging her in every elegant pu
suit, and administering to those delica
tastes and fancics that spread a kind
witchery about her sex. Her life" sa
he " shall be fairy tale"
The very difference in their characte
produced a harmonious combination;
was of romantic and somewhat serio
cast she all life and gladness. have
ten noticed the mute rapture with whi
he would gaze upon her in company,
which her sprightly powers made her t
delight; and how in the midst of appau
her eye would still turn to him, as if the
alone she sought favor and acceptance.
When leaning on his arm, her slender 70
contrasted finely with his manly person.
The fond conhding air with which s
looked up to him seemed to call fortl
flush of triumphant pride and cherish
tenderness Never did couple set
ward on the Aowery path of early and W
suited marriage with fairer prospect
success.
Itwas the misfortune Of my friend, b
ever, TO have embarked his property
large speculations aud he had not b
married many months, when, by suc
sion of disasters, it was swept from
and he found himself reduced almost
penury. For time he kept this to b
self. and went about with haggard CO
tenance, aud broken heart. His life
a protracted agony, and what rendere
more insupportable was the necessit
keeping q smile in the presence of his W
he could not bring himself to overwh
her with the news. She saw, howe
with the quick eyes Of affection, tina
,vos not we'll with him. She marked
altered looks and stifed sighs, and was
to be deceived by his sickly and vapit
tempt at cheerfulness. She tasked
her sprightly powers and tender blanc
ments 10 win him back to happiness,
she only drove the arrow deeper int
soul. The more he saw cause to love
the more torturing the thought ne