Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-02
"A Wifa,R Love.

The love Of woman in all ages, has been I'M
disputcd-a universally acknowledged verify,
by poets, novelists, moralists and philoso-
phers-by the cultivated and barbarous-the
high and the low. In all countries, in all
conditions, the purity, the constancy, the per-
petuity Of woman's love, is a theme upon
which the sterner sex have delighted to dwell
with rapture, because Of its truthfulness and
its reality.
Whether we contemplate woman as a
friend, a sister or a mother, her love is O
treasure; but strong, and pure, and undyings
as it is in any Of these relations, it rises, and
CLOVIS and burns with a purer fame, perhaps,
when she loves as a rife. We do no. speak
Of those who fill that relation, simply. 1t is
one thing to be called q wife, but it is quite
tering that relation, appreciates her position,
feels It's responsibilities, and willingly con-
fides her all to one only, then it is, q new
heat and lustre are impaired to her love, and
Il grows brighter and brighter, with the adj
vance Of days and years.
How beautifully has this idea been ~illustra-
ted in the history of Lady Franklin, the de-
voted wife Of that intrepid, but unfortunate
navigator, Sir John Franklin. When she
gave him her heart and hand, she did not rob
her country of him.. He was hers, but he
and she, were still the property of their coun-
try. When at its voice, he was for so many
years separated from her, still she watched
the wake Of his gallant ship with a s~leepless
eye, and her warm heart, morning, noon and
night, run over with affection for the skillful
commander. And when she reluctantly gave
him up for his last voyage, how anxiously
did she try to trace his track upon.the charts
Of tho frozen sea, and eagerly seek the small
est item of intelligence from her noble hus-
band. Days and weeks at length passed on,
without a note Of tidings from him still she
said the will come" Years elapsed, envel-
oping in deeper gloom his sad fate fleets
fully accoutered for the search, were sent out
to seek his icy retreat, and returned with no
tidings. Her nation gave him up for lost
old seamcn hung their heads in despair; still
the love that burned in Lady Franklin's heart,
said, "he is not dead-I shall see him again
Her undying love Andher eloquent p~leadings
enlisted tho world in her cause, and our own
country calamity stepped forward to aid ir
the search.
Never were cool courage, skill and an in
domitablc energy, more fully put into requi
sition and more gloriously exerted, than il
the brave hearts and hands of the comman
ders AMI crews Of the U. S. Arctic expedi
ton. Every effort was made to solve tn
mystery, bat in vain. The world had give
him up-all, all, friends, relatives, country
men and strangers, but not so with Lad,
Franklin. Her unchanging love said, he ma
yet be far off in some icy cairn, planning wit
his dispirited companions some way Of escap,
some new track homeward. She alone, coul
not giUe him up.
Her own treasure was expended, and aga
she moved the heart Of the nation, to NAL
one more effort. He might be dead, but 81
could not die in peace till she knew it A
other trial, against hope, is made, and
proves successful. The late expedite
brings to her news, but melancholy as it
it was better than anguishing suspense.
reveals to her the fact, that her noble h,
band had entered that sleep from which the
Is no waking, eleven long years, and yet the
is a sad sweetness in the reflection that tho
eleven years had been spent in watching
his return and in labors and searches to KIN
his fate. Love like this, we apprehend,
heart realizes, but the heart of devoted, c.
Rding wife.
Lady Franklin has many compeers amc
her sex, whose love is as undying and as p
As hers. Alas that it is so poorly requi
by many Of those who are the objects of
"a Truly has the Poet said
"a Wife she Is the truest, tendsrest friend
The balm Of comfort, and the source ofjoy
ThrO' every various torn Of life the same"