Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-10-17
THE WIFE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING


Locked up in w0msn's love. scent the air
OF blessings, when come but near the house.
What delicious breath marriage sends forth
The violet beds not sweeter.-NiddI. ton.
I have often had occasion to remark
the fortitude with which women sustain
the most overwhelming reverses of for
tune. Those disasters which break
down the spirit OF a man, and PROSTATE
HIM in the dust, aeem to call forth all
the enelgies of the softer sex, aud give
such lntrepidity and elevation of their
character. that at times it approaches
to subllmity. Nothing can be more
touching than to behold 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 unsl.rink-
ing firmness, 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 it with its cares
sing tendrils, and bind up its shattered
boughe, so it is beauti fully ordered by
Providence that woman, who is the
mere dependent and ornament 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 wss once
congratulating friend, who had round
hlm q blooming family, knit together
in the strongest affection. IL can wish
you no better lot," said he, with en-
thusiasm, than to have q wife and
children. If you are prosperous there
they are to share your prosperity If
otherwise, there they are to comfort
you."
And, indeed, I have observed that q
MARI ed man falling into misfortune is
more apt to retrieve his situation III
the world than i a single man partly
because be is more stimulated to exer.
tion by the necessities of the helpless
and beloved beings who depend on him
for subsistence but chiefly because
bis spirits are soothed and relieved BY
domestic endearments, and his self
respect kept alive by finding that,
though all abroad is darkness and hu
initiation, yet there is still better
world Of love at home, of which he i.
monarch. Whereas single man is ap1
to run to waste and self-neglect K
fancy himself lowly and abandoned
and his heart to fall to ruin like som,
deserted mansion, for want of an. in
habitant
These observations call to mind ,
little domestic story of which I wa
once witness. My intimate friend
Leslie, had married a beautiful and &C
complished girl, who had been brough
up IN the midst of fash ionable ife.-
She had, it is true, no fortune, but tha
tof my friend was ample, and he de
lighted in the anticipation of indulg
ing her in every elegant pursuit, ant
administering to those delicate tastel
and fancies that spread kind of witch
cry about the sex. "Her life,': sal,
he, "shall be like fairy tale"
The very difference in their charac
ters produced an harmonious combina
ti0n : he was of romantic and some
what serious cast : she was all life ant
gladness. I have often noticed tn,
mute rapture with which he would gaz,
upon her in company, of which he
sprightly powers made her the delight
and how, in the midst of applause, hel
eye would still turn to him, as if Their
alore she sought favor and acceptance
When leaning on his arm, her slende
form contrasted finely with his tall
manly person. The fond, confiding al
with which she looked up to him seem
ed to call forth a flush of triumphan
pride and cherished tenderness, as j
he dotted on his lovely burden for it
very helplessnes. Never did coupl
set forward on the path of early an
we'll suited marriage with fairer pros
pect of felicity.
It was the misfortune of my friend
, however, to have embarked his pror
erty in large speculations, and he ha
} not been married many months, wher
, by succession of sudden disasters
, was swept away from him, and he foun
+ himself reduced to almost penury. Fl
3 q time he kept his situation to himse
g and went about with haggard cou,
tenance, and breaking heart. III
life was but protracted agony an
what rendered it more insupportab
was the presence of his wife for
9 could not bring himself to overwhel
r her with the news. She saw, howeve
J. with the quick eyes of affection, th
4 all was not we'll with him. She markt
= his altered looks and stified sighs, al
o was not to be deceived by his sick
and vapid attempts at cheertulness.-
q She tasked all her sprightly powers al
|. tender Establishments to win him ba,
b to happiness ; but she only drove Il
y arrow deeper into his soul. The mo
a he saw cause 10 love her, the more tc
turing was the thought that he W
% soon to make her wretched. A lit,
"a while, thought he, and the smile sh.
70 vanished from that cheek-the Sol
~ will die away from those lips the BIZ
"a ter of those eyes will be quenched wi
:. r. sorrow; and the happy heart, WIN
II now beats lightly in that bosom, "
i be weighed down, like mine, by t
a cares and miseries of the world.
N At length he came to me one day a
- related his whole situation in tone
70 the deepest despair. When I hea
n. him through inquired, Does 20
ID wife know all this 2" At the questi
is he burst into IN agony of tears. "E
vt Gods sake !" cried he, "if you ha
e. any pity on me don't mention my wi
ve it is the thought of her that drives
90 q most to madness"
Id "And why not z" said I. "She m,
G. know.it sooner or later you cam
ID keep it long from her, and the inte
~ gence may break upon icr in MI
i'd startling manner than if impaired yo