Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-12
THE WIFE.


asters which break down the spirit of man,
and prostrate him in the dust, seem to call
forth all the energies Of the softer SEX and
give such intrepidity and elevation to the char
scter, that at times it approaches to sublimity.
Nothing can be more touching than to behold
soft, tender female, who has been all weak
ness and dependence, and alive to every trivial
roughness while treading the prosperous paths
OF life, suddenly rising in mental force to be
the comforter and support of her husband
under misfortune, and abiding with shrinking
frmness the bitter blast Of adversely
As the vine which has long twined its grace
ful foliage about the oak, and been lifted by it
1nto sunshine, will, when the hardy plants is
TIfted by the thunderbOlt, cling round il with
csressing tendrills, and bind up its shattered
boughs, so it is beautifully ordered by Provi-
deace that woman, who is the mere dep.atient
and ornament Of man in his happy hours
should be his stay and solace when smitten
with sudden calamity, winding herself into the
rugged recesses of his nature teEderly SUD-
porting the dropping head, and binding up the
broken heart.
was once congratulating a friend who had
around him a blooming family, knit together
in the strongest affections. Il can wish no
better lot, said he, with enthusiasm " than
to have wife and children. If you are pros
porous, they are there to share your prosper
ity; IT otherwise, there they are to comfort
you" And, indeed, | have observed that a
apt to retrieve his situation in the world than
single One partly because he is more stimu-
lated to exertiOn by the necessities of the help-
less and beloved beings who depend upon him
for subsistence, but chiefly because his spirits
are sOOthed and relieved by domestic endear-
ments, and his self-respect kept alive by find
ing that, though all abroad is darkness and
humiliation, yet there is still little world of
love at home, Of which he is the monarch
whereas, single man is apt to run to waste
and self-neglect; to fancy himself lonely and
abandoned, and his heart to fall to ruin like
some deserted mansion for want of an inhab-
liant.
These observations call to mind a little do
mestic story, of which | was once a witness
My intimate friend, Leslie married beautiful
and accomplished girl who had been brought
up IN fashionable life. She had, it is true no
fortune, but my friends was ample; and he
delighted in the anticipation Of induiging her
In every elegant pursuit, and administering to
those delicate tastes and fancies that spread a
kind of witehery about the sex. ''Her life, 4"
said he, "shall be like fairy tale" "
The very difference of their character pro
dueed an harmonious combination He was of
a romantic and serious cast; she was all life
and gladness. 1 have often noticed the mute
rapture with which he .uld gaze upon her.in
company, Of which her sprightly powers made
her the delight; and how, in the midst of ap-
PIause, her eye would still turn to him. as if
there alone she sought favor and acceptance
When hanging on his arm, her slender form
contrssted finely with his tall, manly person
The fond, confding air with which she looked
up to him, seemed to call forth flush of tri-
umphant pride and cherishing tenderness, as
if he dotted on his lovely burden for its help
lessness. Never did couple set forward on
the howery path OF early and well-situated
marriage with fairer prospect of felicity
1t was the misfortune of my friend, however
10 have embarked his property in large specu-
IQrInnG+ a " mi riaAp l.
by a succession Of sudden disasters il was swept
from him, and he found himself reduced al
most to penuTy. For a time he kept his situa-
tiOn to himself, and went about with haggard
cOuntenance and breaking heart His life
was but a prOtracted agony, and what rem
dered it more insuppOrtable was the necessity
Of keeping up a smile in the presence of MS
wife; for he could not bring himself to over
whelmIher with the news She saw, however
with the quick eye Of affection. that all was
not well with hiB. She marked his altered
looks and Stifed sighs, and was not to be de-
ceiyed by his sickly and vivid attempts at
cheerfulness. She tasked all her sprightly
power and tender Establishments to win him
back to happiness; but she only drove the ar
row deeper into his soul. The more he saw
cause to love h'r the more torturing was the
thought that ne as soon to make her Wretched
A little while, thought he, and the smile will
vanish from that cheek-the song will die
away from those lips-the luster of those ewes
will be quenched with sorrow; and the happy
heart which now beats lightly in that bosom
will be weighed down like mine, by the cares
and miseries Of the world.
At length he came to me one day and related
his whole situation in tone of deep despair
When / heard him through / inquired, docs
your wife know all this2" At the question he
burst into an agony of tears. ''For Gods
sIke," cried be, ''if you have any pity on ME,
don't mention my wife it is the thought of her
that drives me almost to Madness
And why not ," said l. 'She must know
il sooner or later; you cannot keep it long
from her, and the intelligence may break upon
her In a more startling manner than if impart-
ed by yourself; for the accents of those we love
soften the hardest tidings. Besides, you are
dePriving yourself Of the comforts of her sym
psthy- not merely that, but endangering the
only bond that can keep hearts togetheT-an
uDseserged community of thought and feeling
She will soon perceive that something is Sc
ereuy preying upon your mind, and true love
will not brook reserve; it feels undervalued
and outraged, when even the sorrows of those
ii loves are concealed from it''
''Oh, but my friend; to think what blow I
am to give all her future prospects. How am
i to strike her very soul to the earth, by tell
ing her that her husband is beggsr that she
is to forego all the elegancies of life-alI the
pleasures of gay society-to shrink with me
into indigence and obscurity. To tell her that
have dragged her down from the sphere in
which she might have continued to move in
constant brightness-the light of every eye
the admiration Of every heart. How can she
bear poverty? she has been the idol of society
Oh, it will break her heart"
I saw his grief was eloquent and let it
have its Aow; for sorrow relieves itself by
words When his paroxysm had subsided,
and he had relapsed into moody silence, re-
sumed the subject gently, and urged him to
break his situation at once to his wife, He
shook his head mournfully, but positively.
ssBut how are you to keep it from her? 1t
IA necessary that she should know it, that YOU
take the steps proper to the alteration Of your
circumstances. You must change your style of
Iiying-nay," observing pang to pass across
hiscountensnce, don't let that affiict you 1
sm sure you have never placed your happiness
in outward show-you have yet friends-warm
friends, who will not think the worse Of you for
being less splendidly lodged; and surely it does
not require a palace to be happy with Mary
- Il could live with her. be cried
convuIsively, Gin howell. could 60 down
with her into poverty and the dust. / could