Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-06-06
From Washington Irvings sketch Book.
THE WIFE.

AS uIe tne cOnCealeu comforts OF Huu,
Locked up in n womans love. 1 scent the al
OF blessings, when come but near the house
With delicious breath marriage sends forth
The violet beds not sweeter- -MIpDLEToN.
l have often had occasion to remark 7tht
fortitude with which woman sustains the
most overwhelming reverses of fortitude
Those disasters which break down the
spirit of man, and PROSTATE him in the
dust, seem to call forth all the ener gies o.
the softer sex, and give such intrepidiiy
and elevation to the character, that al
times it approaches to sublimity. Nothing
can be more touching than to behold 9
soft, tender female, who has been all weak
ness and dependence, all alive 10 every tri
vial roughness, while treading the prosper
Gus paths of life, suddenly rising in mental
force to be the comforter aud supporter OF
her husband, under misfortune, and abiding
with unshrinking frmness the bitter blast
of adversely.
AS the vine, which has long twined It's
graceful foliage about the oak, and been
lifted by it into sunshine, will, when the
hardy plant is rifted by the thundefb bolt,
cling around it with its caressing tendris,
aud bind up its shattered boughs, SO is it
beautifully ordered by Providence that wo.
man, who is the mere dependent and orna.
ment of man in his happy hours, should be
| bis stay and solace; when smitteu with sud-
den calamity, winding herself into the rug
ged rccesses Of his nature, tenderlY sup.
porting the dropping head, aud binding tao
broken heart.
was once congratulating friend who
had around him Ull omlng family, knit 10
geiher iu the strongest affection. l can
| Wish you DO better lot, said be with enthn.
siasm, than 10 have O wife and children.
If you are IrosperouS, there they are to
share your prosperity; ii otherwise, there
they are to comfort You.
Aud, indeed, | have observed that q
married man, falling into misfortune, is
lnoie apt to retrieve his situation in the
world than a single Que, partly because he
is more stimulated 10 exorlion by the ue.
cessiiies of the helpless and beloved beings
who depend upon him for subsistence; Out
chiefly beCause his spirits are soOthed aud
relieved 10y domestic eudearment5, aud his
se!freSpec. kept alive by finding that tho
al! abroad Is darkness and humIuation, yet
there is sili little world Of lose at home,
OF which lie is the mouarch. Whereas, u
single man is apt 10 run TO waste and ueg
leci; to faucy himself lonely and abandon
cd, aud his heart 10 fall 10 ruiu like some
deserted mansion for want OF san inhuoi
tant.
These observations call to mind e littlC
domestic story of which was oucc u wit
ness. .-..
My intimate friend, Leslie, had married
beautiful and accomplished giil who baC
been brought up in fashionable life. Sac
had, it is true, no fortune, but that of my
friend was ample, aud he delighted in the
anticipation of iuiuging her in every ele.
CANT pursuit, aud administering to those
delicate tastes aud faucies that spread q
kind Of witchery about her sex. Her life,
said be, shall be like fairy tale.
The very difference Of their characters
produced harmonious combination; he
was of romantic and serious cast; she
was all life aud gladueSs | have often no
tlced the mute rapture with which be
would gaze upon her in company, OF which
her sprghtiy powers made her the delight
and now IN the midst Of applause her eyes
would still turn TO him as if there alone she
sought favor aud acceptance. When
huugiDg on his arm her slender form, Con
trasled finely with his tall, manly person.
The fond, cOuhding air with which she
looked up 10 him, seemed TO call forth u
! flush of Triumphant pride and cherishing
tenderness, us if he doa, ed on his lovely
burden for it's helplessness Never did d
couple set forward on the fowery path of
early aud we'll situated marriage with q
fairer prospect of felicity.
1t was the misfortune of my friend, how.
ever, to have embarked his property in
large speculations; he had not been mar.
ried many months, when by succession of
sudden disasters it was swept from him,
and he found himself reduced almost 10
penury. For a time be kept his situatl on
to himself and went about with haggard
countenance and breaking heart. His
life was but protracted agony; and what
rendered it more insupporlable was the ne
cessity of keeping smile n the presence
of his rife; for be could not bring himself
10 overwhelm her with the news. She saw, 1,
however, with quick eyes of affection, that
| all was nOI Hel WIFI liilu Ou0 uIul hVu
his altered looks and stihed signs, and was
not to be deceived by his sickly aud vivid
attempts at cheerfuness. She tasked all
her sprightly powers and teuder blandish-
ments to win him back to happiness; but
she only drove the arrow deeper into bis
soul. The more he saw cause to love her,
the more torturing was the thought that he
was soon to make her wretched. A little
while, thought he, aud the smile will van
lsh from that cheek-lhe song will die
away from those lips-lhe lustre of those
eyes will be quenched with sorrow; and
The happy heart which now beats lightly
in that bosom will be weighed down like
mlne, by lhe cares and miSeries of the
world.
AT length be came 10 me one day and
related his whole situation in tones OF deep
despair When / heard him through, l
inquired: Does your wife know all OF thlsf
Az this question he burst into an agony oil
tears. For Gods sake, cried he, II you
have any pity on me, don't mention my
wife; it is the thought OF her that drives