The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-07-10
CHOOSE WISELY THE WIFE OF THY
BOSOM.

CHOOSE WISELY THE WIFE OF THY
BOSOM.
Gomy son. said the eastern sage to Talmo:e,
go forth to the world; be wise in thy pur-
suit Of knowledge-be wise in the accumu-
lation of riches-be wise in the cho'ce Of
friends; yet little will this avail thee, II thou
choosrst not wisely the wife of thy bosom.
When the rulers OF thy people echo the
sayings, and the trumpet of f,me sounds thy
name abroad among the nations, more beau
tifulIv will the sun ofthy glory set, if one
bright cloud reflects its brightness, and sui
lied forever will be the splendor of the rays,
if like dark spot she crosses its surface.
Consider this, then. my son; and look well
TO her ways whom thou wouldst love; for
little will all else avail thee, il thou choos
est not wisely the companion of thy bosom
See yonder the maidens of Tinge. They
deck themselves with the gems of Goconda
and the rose of Kashmire-themseIves more
brilliant and beautiful; but ah! take not them
to thy bosom; for the gem will grow dim,
and the rose wither and naught remain to
thee of all thou didst WOO and win.
Neither turn thyself to the proud one who
vaunts herself on having scanned tine pages
of Vedas, and fathomed the mysteries ofihe
holy temple. Woman was not born TO
WELD the sceptre, or direct the COUNSEL to
reveal the mandates Of Brana, or expound
the sacred verses of Menu. Rather be it
hers to support thee in grief and sooth thee
in sickness; to rejoice in thy prosperity, and
cling to thee in adversely. Reflect then my
son, ere YOU ehoosest, and look to hbr ways
whom thou wouldst make the wife of thy
bosom.
A wife! what sacred name! what a re-
sponsible office! she must be the unspotted
sanctuary to which wenred man may flee
from the crimes of the world, and feel that
no sin dare enter there. A wife! she must
be as pure as the spirits around the Ever
lasting Throne, that man may kneel to her,
even il tHc uu"IhtoH, uHu 'ccI HU "U"SVWe"''
A wife! she must be the guardian angel of
his footsteps on earth, ard guide them to
heaven; so firm in virtue that should he for
n moment waver, she can yield him support,
and replace him upon its firm foundation; so
happy in conscious innocence, that when from
the perplexities of the world he turns to his
home, he may never find frown where he
sought smile. Such my son, thou seekest
in a wife; and reflect well ere thou choosest.
Open not thy bosom to the trife; repose not
thy head on the breast which nurseth envy
and folly, and vanity. Hope not for obedi-
ence where the passions are uninmed; and
axnaci moi han nr fran her who hnnoreth not
the God that made her.
Though thy place be next to the throne
of princes, and the countenance of royalty
beam upon thee-though thy riches be ns
the perals of Omar, and thy name be honored
from the east to the west--litte will it avail
thee, if darkness and disappointment and
strife be in thine own habitation. There
must be passed thine hours of solitude or
sickness-and there thou must die. Reflect
then, my son, ere thou choOsest, and lock
well to her ways whom thou wouldst love;
for though thon be wise in other things
little will It avail thee, if thou choosest not
wisely the wife of thy bosom ''"