Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-01

LONG ENGAaEMENTs.
ny ANNA CORA RiTcHrE

when the heaft Sufreuuefsf CouDIht Nhc
blushing promise quickly at the affairs foot'
is the adilration of every efamored sutton,
eager for the climax Of the wedding ring
But the maiden who reflects viii respond
with no hasty "amen" TO that fond prayer.
Reflects does not King Oberon still walk
the earth, performing as fantastic and amaz-
ing feats with his magical flowers as in the
DAYS of Bully Bottom? And did woman
ever reflect after the fairy monarch had sto-
len upon her slumbers and pressed the juice
Of his purple blossom upon her folded lids
The portals Of her heart opened with her
ewes when the latter have once received that
mystic flowers touch, and the eyes take in
and the heart enthrones the being first look
ed upon.
Let him wear what shape he may, he is
transformed and glorifed to her vision by
Loves glamor. That moment reason is I'M
ceremoniously thrust out Of doors. In vain
she clamors TO be heard, and warns the in
fatuated fair one against precipitancy-in
vain she reminds her that her happiness is
more easily perilled than man's-that her
susceptibilities are keener-that her suffer
ings will be greater-that her risks are
thousand fold more numerous. Love fash
ions a FOOLS cap out Of his madrigals to bind
IL UPON ItdSOD DIUhs sllU HUN tlldl uDul
she passes for folly.
Goldsmith's Citizen Of The World quantity
remarks that marriage has been compared
10 game Of skill for life; it is generous,
then, in both parties 20 declare that they
are sharpers in the beginning. In England
! am told both sides use every art 70 con-
ceal their defects from each other before
marriage, and the rest Of their lives may be
regarded as doing penance for their dissim-
ulation."
Is this a malicious SANDER OF a rudely
expressed truth? Are not lovers all the
world over zealously engaged in cheating
each other? Does not the very state of
mental exaltation, produced by an absorb
ing affection, give birth 10 an unpremed-
itated deception 2 Nay, has not love, in the
dawn Of It's existence, identifying in
fuence upon the whole constitution of a
mans soul7 Are not common place minds
elevated and rendered poetic by its refining
power? What, then, must be its effect upon
spirits Of finer mold?
The period Of an open, prosperous be-
trothal is the poisoning season of life. The
sun Of pure passion calls forth the fairest
flowers upon every tree, and the air is filled
with melody Of birds caroling joyful prom
Uses from the branches. In the sunshine of
bright illusions-the exhilarating atmos-
phere Of alternate hopes and fears-the
heart CLOVIS, and swells, and takes in all
creation with unwonted tenderness; the
dullest prospects are tinged with orient
hues the simplest incidents communicate
thrill Of joy; nature puts on her gala dress
10 welcome the enamOred pair wherever
they wander, and shakes down odorous
tributes upon their heads from every bough.
And it is we'll 1t is better the soul, even
when love is misplaced, 10 give a boundless
devotion for an object worthy of the whole
wealth Of the heart.
The man Of her choice is always a hero TO
woman who loves heartily, and her fond
fancy invests him with an abundance of cap
tivatiAg attributes, which possibly have not
the most shadowy existence out of her ina
gination. On the other hand, Shakespeare
tells us that TO men "women are angels
wooing." But OF the bitter disenchant-
ment If in the glare of Hymen's torch the
ideal charms vanish away, the mantle Of
glory falls from the hero's shOulders-and
the CANCEL" at whose shrine the lover
deyoutly worshipped, stands before him a
most terrestrial being full of failings, wants,
caprices, inconsistencies?
Unconsciously his eyes must then forget
"The gentle ray
They wore in courtships smiling day"
his voice must lose
"The tones that she'd
A tenderness round all they said"
the roses of her bridal chaplet must wither,
and leave martyrs crown Of thorns upon
the brow they encircled.
The probation of long engagement is
the surost talisman against this rude dissolv-
ing of the spell that surrounds lovers. Dur
ing che interval the various phases of char
acter are revealed by unforeseen chances-by
hfe's inevitable mutations: and, being dis
covered at this blissful period when no life
shaclxle makes endurance compulsory, even
grave faults and temper-trying peculiarities
are readily tolerated and excused. Mental
angrlarities are worn away and rounded off
10 graceful smoothness, by the attrition of
constant association. Their souls become
attuned 10 the same key. The indispensable
lesson Of mutual forbearance is conned be-
Sides
Love has leisure allowed him TO build his
temple upon the rock of perfect trust, which
no storm can shake. The flashing flames Of
enthusiasm, by which its shrine was illum-
ined at conservation, is gradually replaced
by that steady, holy light which fiercest gales
cannot extinguish. Good spirits have whis-
pered TO the wife elect that she will need
Marthas executive hands and Mary's APP
preciating soul TO keep those affairs swept
and garnished, and have murmured in her
partners ear that he mustreign within those
walls with Solomon's wisdom and Jacobs
patience. Thus, the prolonged betrothal
Is often the prelude to a harmonious union,
and no harsh music distarbs its lifelong
melody.