Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-07-29

the founces on the brides dress, and the
value of the diamonds worn, and the wed.
ding gifts displayed.
Can anything be more dreary than such
reading, except to be spectator of the
scene described? Can any feeling but sor-
row (unless it be disgust arise at the ap-
pearance of two young persons,at the most
momentous period of their lives, filed with
very near the same feelings as if per-
forming for the first time in private theat-
rlcal their sole anxiety for the moment,
that they shall make a fine appearance, ,and
their highest joy caused by the thought of
their friends astonished admiration of the
protusion of gold and silver knick-knacks
which are spread out on the show counter
at the brides house. Is it any wonder that
the number of marriages is diminish ing in
our large cities? Aye, marriages are dl-
minishing faster than the records show !;
there be many weddings which are not
marriages-they are only show affairs, with
no more admixture or heart or soul than is
found in the window of fashionable mo-
diSte. or the jewel-cases of Ball Il Black.
Miss Calhoun says:
a bride comes hither to break her
VOWS, not because the groined roof springs
strong and beautiful and unohan9ing
above her. the symbol of the over-arching
presence and providence Of God; not be-
cause the nave is sweet with the fragrance
of a million prayers not because the Lord
is in his holy temple, with blessings for his
little children not because marriage is the
profoundest experience of humanity, a mir
acle more marvellous than BIRTH a mystery
more solemn than death, and to be cele-
brated in consecrated places but because
the church holds many people and aisle
displays voluminous train, and the rings
on the bridal fingers may glitter bravely,
and the bells on the bridal toes may ring
noisily, and the cost of the bridal dress
may strike dumb with amazement and ad-
miration any gaping idler of the town,
whom the doors have attracted to a free
exhibition
80 girls ,are you children of revolution
airy mothers? ? Are you daughters and sis
ters and sweethearts of men who fought our
late battles, and found life other than
Joke and sham? Are you q kin to the
women who upheld their hands and nursed
them, living and buried them, dead, and can
YOU ludht your lives d "TctCueu pTeteIlCe
from maidenhood to death
If you love man with heart and soul,
marry him provided, of course, that he
loves you, and asks you.) If you don't
love him, don't marry him, though you die
an old maid at ninety in the Asylum for In
digent Old Maids But let your wedding
be simple and quiet, and beautiful with
love, but not with money. If you are rich,
do this in the name OF grace, and for the
sake of example If you are poor, do it
in the name of honesty, and for the sake Of
a pure conscience And in either event,
do it an offering to delicaey and the fit
ness Of things
If you have wedding presents, then
most Of them will come because the givers
love You and, loving, desire to give the
gifts of love. Treasure them sacredly but
on the wedding day send them to the bank
or hide them in the attic, or push them un-
der the bed or put them in the refrigerator,
- Il - 1t;-5 N..t shp.Le .ho.., ~ tho face
or tne pupnc, ana say Driruiu hvu
pleased am with my rattle-how tickled
with my straw"