Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-07
THE WIFE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.


most overwhelming reVerses of fortune.
Those disasters which break down the spir-
it of a man, and PROSTATE him in the dust,
seem to call forth ell the energies of the
softer sex, aud give such intrepidity and ell
ovation to their character, that at times it
approaches to sublimity. Nothing can be
more touching than to behold soft and
tender female, who had been all weakness
and dependence, and alive to every trivial
roughness while treading the prosperous
paths Of life, suddenly rising in mental
force to be the comforter and support of
her husband under misfortune, and abiding,
with Qnshrinking firmness, the bitterest
blasts of adversely. 1850
As the vine which has long twined its
graceful foliage about the oak, and been
lifted by it into sunshine, will, when the
hardy plant is rifted by the thunderbolt,
cling around it with its caressing tendIils,
and bind up its shattered boughs; so is it
beautifully ordered by Providence, that
woman, who is the mere dependent and
ornament of man in his happier hours,
should be his stay and solace when smitten
with sudden calamity; winding herself
into the rugged recess of his nature, ten
Derby supporting the dropping head, and
binding up the broken heart. was once
congratulating a friend, who had around
him blooming family, knit together in the
strongest affection. II can wish you no
better lot" said he, with enthusiasm, ethan
to have a wife and children. Ii you are
prosperous, there they are to share your
prosperity; if otherwise, there they are TO
comfort YOU"
And, indeed, have observed that mar
ried man falling into misfortune is more
apt to retrieve his situation in the
world than q single one; partly because he
is more stimulated to exertion by the ne
cessities of the helpless and beloved beings,
who depend upon him for subsistence; but
chiefly because his spirits are soothed and
relieved by domestic endearments, and his
self respect 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
single man is apt to run to waste and self
neglect; to fancy himself lowly and aband-
oned, and his heart to fall to ruin like some
deserted mansion, for want Of an inhabi-
tant.
These observations call to mind little
domestic story Of which was once a wit
ness. My intimate friend, Leslie, had mar
ried 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
delighted in the anticipation of INDUCING
her in every elegant pursuit, and admins
tering to those delicate tastes and fancies
that spread a kind of witehery about the
sex. "Her life," said re, "shall be like a
fairy tale"
The very difference in their characters
produced an harmonious combination: he
was of a romantic and somewhat serious
cast; she was all life and gladness. | have
often noticed the mute rapture with which
he would gaze upon her in company, OF
which her sprightly powers made her the
delight; and how, in the midst of applause,
! her eve would still turn to him, as if there
alone she sought favor and acceptance.
| When leaning on his arm, her slender form
contrasted finely with his tall manly PER
| son. The fond, cOnfidiag air with which
| she looked up to him seemed to call forth
a flush of triumphant pride and cherishing
| tenderness, as if he dotted on his lovely bur-
! den for its very helplessnesS. Never did a
couple set forward on the fioweTy path OF
! early and We'll suited marriage with faireT
prospect Of felici y.
II was the misfortune OF my friend, how
! ever, to have embarked bis property in large
speculati0ns, and ne had not been married
many months, when, by a succession OF
sudden disasters it was swept away from
! him, and he found himself reduced to al
most perjury. For time he kept his sit
uation to himself and went about witt
| a haggard countenance, and breaking
heart. His life was but prOtracted agony
and what rendered it more insuppOrtabl'
was the necessity of keeping VI
smile in the presence Of hi
wife: for he could mot bring himsel
to oyerwhelm her with the news. She
saw, however, with the quick eyes of at
| lection, that all was not well with him
! She marked his altered looks and stifeC
| signs, and was not to be deceived by his
sickIy and vapid attempts at cheerfulness
She tasked all her sprightly powers anC
tender Establishments to win him back tC
happiness; but she only drove the arrow
deeper into his soul. The more he say
cause to love Ter, the more tOrturing wa
the thought that he was soon to make he
wretched. A little while, thought he, ant
the smile will vanish from that cheek-th
song will die away from those lips--th
lustre of these eyes will be quenched witt
sorrow; and the happy heart, which nov
beats lightly in that bosom, will be weighe
down, like mine, by the cares and miserie
of the world.
At length he came to me one day, an
related his whole situation in tone of tn
deepest despair. When heard hin
through, inquired, 'Does your wife know
al this ~ AT the question he burst int
an agony of tears. ''For Gods sake - erie
he, III you have any pity on me don't men
ton my wife; it is the thought OF her tina
drives me almost to madness"
'And why noJ" said l, "She must knov
it sooner or late you cannot keep it Ion
from her, ana the int diligence may brea
upon her in a more startling manner thai
if impaired by yourself; for the accents G
those we love soften the harshest tidingS
Besides, You are depriving yourself of th
comforts of her sympathy and not merel
that, but also endangering the only bon
that can keep hearts logether-aH unre
served community Of thought and feeling
She will soon perceive that something is 81
crerlv proving upon your mind; and true
love viii not brook reserve; it feels under
valued aud outraged, when even the sorrow
of those it loves are concealed from It,"
| NOllg Dl4ts lll ll4DllAs W 0AAA-AA AA@eN w
lam to give TO all her future prospects
how l am to strike her very soul 10 tn
earth, by telling her that her husband is
beggar. that she is to forego all the elegaI
cies Of life-an the pleasures of society
to shrink with me into indulgence and obscu
rity! To tell her that l have dragged he
down from the sphere in which she migt
have continued to move in constant bright
ness-the light of every eye-the admir-;
ton OF every heart! How can she bes
poverty? she has be n brought up in all tn
refinenents of OpUlence. How can 81
bear neglect? she has been the idol of soc
, CIV. Oh! it will break Ler heart-it wi
! break her hearth
saw his grief was eloquent, and let
; have lis 4 wv; for sorrow relieves itself b
e words. When his parOXysm had subside
4 and he had relapsed into moody silence,
resumed the subject gently, and urged BIZ