The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-07-18

| u
The violet beds not swCCtcr MiddtetOn
| was once congra'u ulating a friend,
who had around him q blooming
family, knit together in the strong
est affection. 81 can wish you no
better lot, said he, with enthusiasm,
ethan to have wife and children.
II you are prosperous, they are to
share your prosperity; il otherwise,
they are to comfort you" And, i'll
deed, | have observed that q mar
lied man falling into misfortune is
more apt to retrieve his situation in
the world than n single one; partly
because he is more stimulated to ca
ton by tho necessities Of the help
less and beloved beings who depend
upon him for subsistence; but chief
ly because his spirits are soothed
aud relieved by domestic endear-
ments, and his self-respcct kept alive
by finding, that though all abroad is
darkness and humiliation, yet there
is still little world of love at home,
of which he is the monarch. Where
as u single man is apt to run to
waste and s"lf-neglect; to fancy him
self lonely and abandoned, and his
heart to ruin like some deserted man
sion, for want of an inhabitant.
The observations call to mind a lit
tie domestic story, of which | was
once q witness. My intimate friend,
Leslie, had married a beautiful and
accomplished girl, who had been
brought up in the midst of fashion,
able life. She had, it is true, no for
tune, but that of my friend was am
pie; and he delighted in the antici-
patton OF indulging her in every elc'
CANT pursuit, and administering to
those delicate tastes aud facies that
spread kind of witchery about the
sex.
"Her life," said he, "shall be like
n fairy tale.
The very difference in their char
acters produced an harmonious com
binatioD; he was of a romantic and
serious cast; she was all life and
eladness. have often noticed the
mute rapture with which he would
gaz. up II her in company, OF which
her sprighty powers made her the
delight; and how, in the midst OF Jap
plause, her eye would still turn to
him, as if there alone she sought ia
vor and acceptance. When leaning
on his arm, her slender form con-
trasted finely with his tall, manly
y rson. The fond, confdingair with
which she looked up to him seemed
to call forth II flush of triumphant
pride and cherishing tenderness, as
if he dotted on his lovely burden for
its very hclplcssness. Never did a
couple SIT forward on the ilowery
path of well-suited marriage with a
fairer prospect Of felicity.
TWAS the misfortune of my friend,
however, to have embarked his prop
erty in large speculations; and had
not been married many months,
when, by sudden succession OF dis
asters it was swept from him, and
he found himself reduced almost to
penury. For a time he kept his
situation to himself and went about
with haggar1 countenance, and a
breaking heart, His life was but a
protracted agony; and what lender
ed it more insupportable was the ne
cessity of keeping up a smile in tho
presence OF his wife; for he could not
bring himself. to overwhelm her
with the news She saw, however,
with the quick eyes of affection, that
all was not well with him. She
marked his altered looks and stilled
sighs, and was not to be deceived by
his sickly aud vapid attempts Al
cheerfulncss. She tasked all her
sprightly powers and tender ban
ishments to win the deep arrow from
his soul. The moro ho saw cause to
love her, the more torturinG was
the thought that he was soon to make
her wretchod. A little while,
thought he, and the smile would van
ish from that cheek-the song will
die away from those lips-the luster
of those eyes will be quonched with
! sorrow; the bosom, will be weighed
down like mine, by the cares and
miseries of the world.
At length he came to mo one day,
: and relal ed his whole situation IN a
tone of deepest despair, When l
heard him through inquired, "Does
your wife know all thisy AT the
question he burst into an agony oi
tears. "For Gods sake!" cried he,
"if you have any pity on me, don :
mention my wife; tits the thought OF
her that drives me almost to mad
ness" .c
"And why not2' said l. "She
must know it sooner or later; yonl
cannot keep it long from her, and
the intelligence may break i'll upon
her in more startling manner 'han
if impaired by yourself; for the .,sc ac,
, cents of those we love soften the
barshish tidings. Besides, you are
Jepriying yourself of The comforts
of her sympathy; and not merely
> that, but also endansering the only
. bond that Can keep hearts togetheff
! an unreservcd cummuhlIy ol
r thought and feeling, She . will laasotIn soon n
perceive that something is secretly
Q preying upon your mind; and true true
Q love will not brook reserve; 1t leeia
undervalued and outraged, wheh
r even tn. sorrows of those 1t loves are
I oonceoled from it.