River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-10-25
THE WIFE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

III INV A@fps
The treasures Of the deep are not so precious
Az are the concealed comforts of man
Locked up in woman's love. | scent the air
OF blessings, when come but near the house.
What a delicious breath marriage sends forth
The violet beds not sweeter.-htddtt0 ton.
| have often had occasion to remark
the iortitude with which women sustain
the most overwhelming reverses of for
tune. Those disasters which break
down the spirit OF man, and PROSTATE
hlm in the dust, seem to call forth all
the energies of the softer sex, and give
such lntrepidity and elevation of their
character. that at times it approaches
to sublmity. Nothing can be more
touching than to behold a soft and ten
der female who had been all weakness
and dependence, and alive to every
trivial roughness while treading the
prosperous paths OF life, suddenly ris-
ing in mental force to be the comforter
and support of her husband under mis-
fortune, and abiding, with unshrink-
my trmness, the bitter blasts of adver-
sity.
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 thun-
derbolt, cling around 1t with its cares
sing tendrils, and bind up its shattered
boughs, so it is beauti 'ully ordered by
Providence that woman, who is the
mere dependent and ornam ant CT man
in his happlest hours, should be his
stay and solace when smitten with sud
den calamity; winding herself into the
rugged recesess of his nature, tenderly
supporting the dropping head and bind
ing mp the broken heart | was once
congratulating a friend, who HAD round
hlm a blooming family, knit together
in the strongest affection. 4" can wish
you no better lot" said he, with en-
thusiasm, /" than TO have a wife and
children. If you are prosperous there
they are to share your prosperity il
otherwise, there they are to comfort
You.
Aud, indeed, / have observed that
MARI ed man falling into misfortune is
more apt to retrieve his situation in
the world than n single man partly
because he is more stimulated to exer-
ton 10y the necessities of the helpless
and beloved beings who depend on him
fot 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 HUI
utilization, yet there is still better
world of love mt home, of which he is
monarch. Whereas a SINGLE man is apt
90 run 10 waste and self.neglect to
fancy himself lowly and abandoned,
and his heart to fall to ruin like some
deserted mansion, for want of an in
habitant
These observations call TO mind a
little domestic story of which | was
once witness. My intimate friend,
Leslie, had married beautiful and nc
comphshed girl, who had been brought
up IL the midst Of fast ionable life
She had, il is true. no fortune, but that
of my friend was ample, and he de-
lighted in the anticipation Of indulge
ing her in every elegant pursuit, and
administering TO those delicate tastes
aud iancies that spread kind Of witch
cry about the sex. " Her life, said
he, shall be like fairy tale. "
The very difference in their charac.
tiers produced an harmonious combina
tion he was of romantic and some
what 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 ii there
alore she sought favor and acceptance.
When leaning ON his arm, her slender
form contrasted finely with has tall,
manly person. The fond, confdiug air
with which she looked mp TO him seem
ed 10 call forth flush Of triumphant
pride aud cherished tenderness. rs If
he dotted on his lovely burden for its
very helplessnes. Never did couple
set forward on the path of early and
we'll suited marriage with fairer pros
pect OF felicity.
II WAS the misfortune Of my friend,
however, 20 have embarked his prop
erty In large specu,atious, aud he had
not been married many months, when,
hy succession of sudden disasters il
WIS swept away from him, and he found
A14n4soii fuudceNa ~ $500 t~4a.. -