Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-05-20
EARLY Marriages.


way of clinching his sermons. We have never
seen more common sense and truthful view
of early marriages than that given in the iol-
lowing extract. Young men and maidens Of
Jefferson read his advice and straightway profit
thereby, for Beecher is a firm believer in the
good old Hibernianism, that two can fight
the world better than one." And it is really
refreshing to read such sentiments as the fol-
lowing, amid the glare and tinsel Of this snowy
age Of ours.
Coop EFFECTS or EARLY MARRIAGES.-At
no after period, perhaps, in their life do young
men need the inspiration of virtuous love, and
the sympathy Of companion in their self-de-
nying toll, as when they first enter the battle
for their own support Early marriages are
permanent moralitics, and deferred marriages
are temptations to wickedness; and yet every
wear it becomes more and more difficult, con-
current with the reigning ideas of society, for
Young men to enter upon that matrimonial
State which is the proper guard OF their virtue,
as well as the source of their courage and en-
terprise. The battle Of life is almost always
at the beginning. There it is that man needs
wedlock but wicked and ridiculous public
sentiment puts a man who Is IN society, ol
out of society, for that matter, largely ON the
ground of condition, aud not of disposition and
character. The man that has means where
with he can vsibly live amply is in good So
ciety as a general rule. The man that has
virtue and sterling manliness, but has nothing
withal external to show, is not usually consid'
cred in good society. Ambitious young mel
will not, therefore, marry until they can NEE
their expenses but that is delerring for year;
and wears the indispensable virtue. Society
is bad when two cannot live cheaper than one
and Young men are under bad influences who
when in the very morning OF lie, and oettel
fitted than at any period to grow together VIII
one who is their equal and mate, are deoarret
from marrying, through scores OF years, iron
mere prudential considerations; and the hear
and the life are sacrificed to the pocket. They
are tempted to substitute ambition for love
when at last; over the ashes and expiring EN-
bers of their early romance, they select thel
wife. II is said that men who wait till the,
are forty or forty-five years OF age, select pru
IDENTITY. Alas for the wife who was not first I
sweetheart. Prudence is good; but Is pru
dence servant or queen? Prudence is good
but what is prudence? Is it the dry cacula
ton of the head leagucd with the pocket? Il
there no prudence in taste, nor prudence II
the inspiration Of generous love? Is ther.
no prudence in the faith by which, banded
two Young persons 60 down into the struggle
of life. saving, Come veal, come woe, come
storm. come calm, love is match for circum
stances and VIC will be all to each other p
Woe be to that society in which the customs
and the manners of the times put oil, beyond
the period of romance and afiiaucing, the wed
ding. You have adjourned the most importan
secular act of a mans life. You have adlournet
il out of Eden into the wilderness The glrl
next infected land even women fall with th'
npblic spirit. too often waits to be wooed by
those who can place her again, in the very be
ginning of her welded life, where she wa
when she was broken of as branch from th'
parental tree But graft should always %
willing TO be a graft, aud wait till 1t can maxi
its own top by legitimate growing. And wo
| is the day when every girl says, Will no
marry until my husband in the beginning ha
as much as my father bad at the end OF hl
/ life For she-wbat is she? Who was !
that Jupiter won in a shower Of gold Wh'
ever It was, that is the type. She whose hear
is won by abundance she who IS bought INT
/ natrimony by house and land she who mar
ries for oenteel wealth-she 1t is that Juphe
seduced by gold. For all wedlOck is adulter
ons in which it is not the heart that inspire
marriage. Noble is that young spirit which
seeing. and loving, aud choosing, and silentl.
biding her choice, is won and chosen, and CIV
ing herself freely, romantically IL you VIII
/ God be thanked for the romance.l goes dow
I to the level of her husbands nothingness an'
novcrty. that she and be may, with willin;
hands. from the bottom build up their estate
blessed is that woman who sees that in golni
down she goes up, and that it is the losing 0
life that saves it. Blessed is that woman VIII
! carries with her into married life all that sh
learned in the refinement Of her fathers family
/ who proves that she is a woman in this tina
gentleness, and praise, and abundance, am
| luxury even, ministerel to the better parts o
her nature, and prepared her to 60 ior'h an
minister earnestly aud permanently IN 'h
midst of difficulties. Thousands there ar
who, when once they are called, and kno'
their master, love. 60 cheerfully out with tn
young man and take part and lot with him.
Oh! that young men would trust them moro
and prove them better, and see if this Is not Sc
How noble thing it is 10 see the cultured
the polisbed, and refined go down to the yer
/ beginning Of things, led by love, fed by lov'
and al last rewarded by love Henry Var
Bsecher.