West-Jersey pioneer., 1872-12-20
/. -.Theswife.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

BY w MASHINGTON IRVING.
The treasures of the deep are not so precious
| AS are the concealed comforts of man
Locked up in a, woman'sl ve l scent the air
OF blessings, when come but near the house.
| What delicious breath marriage sends forth
! The violet beds not sweeter-MIDDLEToN.
have often had occasion to remark the
| fortitude with which women sustain the
most overwhelming reverses of fortune. :
| Those disasters which break down the spirit
of a man, and PROSTATE him in the dust.
seem to call forthah the energies of the
softer sex, and give such intrepidity and ell
ovation to their character, that at times it
approaches to sublimity. Nothing can be
more touching, than to behold a soft tender
pendence, and alive to every trivial cough
! ness'whiie threading the prosperous paths of
| life, suddenly rising in mental force to be
the comforter and support of her husband
under misfortune, and abiding, with un
shrinking firmness, the bitterest blasts 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 lifted by the thunderbolt,
cling around it with its caressing tendrils,
and 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 happier hours, should
be his stay and solace when smitten with
sudden calamity; winding herself into the
recess of his nature, tenderly supporting the
dropping head and, binding up the broken
heart l was once congratulating friend,
| who had around him blooming family,
knit together in the strongest affection. 81
4 can wish you no better lot" said lie, with
enthusiasm, ethan to have a wife and child
rem. If you are prosperous, there they are
to share your prosperity; if otherwise, they
are comfort to YOU"
And, indeed, have observed that a mar
ried man falling into misfortune is more apt
to retrieve his situation IN the world than a
single one; partly because he is more stim-
ulated to exertion by the necessities of the
helpless and beloved beings, who depend
upon him for subsistence; but chiefly be
cause his spirits are soothed and relieved
spect kept alive by finding, that though all
abroad is darkness and humiliation, yet
there is still better world of love at home,
of which he is the monarch, Whereas the
single man is apt to run to waste and self
neglect; 20 fancy himself lowly and aban-
doned, and his heart to fall to ruin like
some deserted mansion, for want of an in
habitant. %
These observations call to mind little
domestic story of which was once wit
ness. My intimate friend, Leslie, had mar.
ried a beautiful and accomplished girl. who
had been brought up in the midst of fash.
ionable life. She had, it is true, no fortune,
but that of my friend was ample; and he
i delighted in the anticipation Of indulging
her in every elegant pursuit, and admins
i tering to those delicate tastes and fancie:
that spread kind of witchery about the
sex. '.Her life, said he, 'sshall be like 3
fairy tale" III
The very difference in their character.
produced an harmonious combination; HI
4 was of romantic and somewhat seriou.
I cast; she was all life and gladness. have
often noticed the mute rapture with which
he would gaze upon her in company, o
4 which her sprightly powers mace her th'
delight; and how, in the midst of applause
her eye would still turn to him, as if Their
alone she sought favor and acceptance
When leaning on his arm, her slender form
contrasted finely with his tall manly person
The fond, confiding air with which sh
looked up to him, seemed to call forth
flush of triumphant pride and cherishin.
tenderness, as if he dotted on his lovely bur
den for its very helplessness Never did
couple set forward on the fowery path o
early and well suited marriage with faire
prospect of felicity.
1t was the misfortune of my friend how
ever, to have embarked his property in larg
speculations, and he had not been marie,
many months, when, by succession of sud
den disasters it was swept away from him
and he found himself reduced to almost pen
ury. For time he kept his situation t.
himself, and went. about with haggar,
countenance,l and breaking heart. Hi
life was but a protracted agony; and wha
rendered it more insupportable was the ne
cessity Of Keeping up d smile in the presenc
of his wife; for he could not bring himsel
4 to 9Ferwhelm her With the news. eShe say
however, with the, quick eyes of affection
that all was not well with him.. She mark
Z ed his altered looks and stuffed signs, ant
: was not to deceived by his sickly ant
5yapid attempts at cHeerfulness. She taske,
3 all her sprightly powers and tender bland
ishments to win him back to happiness, bu
4 she only drove the arrow deeper into hi
soul. The more he saw cause to love her
the more torturing was the thought that h,
: was soon to make her wretched; little tim
thought he. and the smile will vanish from
! that cheek-the song will die away fron
= those lips--the lustre5 Of those eyes will b.
i quenched with sorrow; and the happy heart
II which now beats lightly in that bosom, viii
be weigae6 down5islike mine, byathe care
and miselies Of the world. as41 8 4 = ',,s oslga3
s'Fa5 I'll ~ ~ length he came to me one ant
7 related hisawhUle situatiomin atpnenof 5th'
4 deepest despair When;I heard him dti6lrsngl
Inquired Il ices know thiss'
4 Atthe questions be burst into an agony o
Itears.eE" For God sake!'' cried he, s'if 70,