Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-10-24
THE WIFE.
Br WASHINGTON IRVING.


The sreasurcs Of the deep not so precious.
Al. ga 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
Tho violet beds not sweeter.-holdt Ton.
( have often had occasion to remark
the fortitnde with which women sustain
the most overwhelming reverses of for
tune. Those disasters which break
down the spirit OF man, aud PROSTATE
hum in the dust, seem to call forth all
the ene1ges of the softer sex, end give
such lntrepidlty and elevation Of their
character that at times it approaches
10 sublmity Nothing can be more
touching than to behold a soft and ten
der female who had been all weakness
and dencndence, and alive to every
trivial rOughness while treading the
prosperous paths OF life, suddenly ris.
ing in mental force TO be the comforter
aud support of her husband under mis-
Fortunc. and abiding, with unshrink-
ing frmness, the bitter blasts of adver
sitY
AS the vine which has long twined its
graceful foliage about the oak and been
lifted by II into sunshine will, when
the hardy plant il ritted by the thun-
derbolt cling around 1t with its cares
sing tcndris, and bind mp its shattered
boughs, so it is heauti 'ully ordered by
Providence that woman, who is the
mere dependent and ornam ent CT man
in his happlest hours, should be his
stay and sOlace when smltten with sud
den calamity; winding herself into the
rugged rec@ess of his nature, tenderly
supporting the dropping head and bind
ing mp the broken heart | was once
concentrating friend, who hau round
hun o blooming family, knit together
m the strongest affection. " / can wish
YOU no better lot, said he, with en-
thusiasm, " than 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 a
MARI ed man falling into misfortune is
more apt TO retrieve his situation in
the world than single man partly
because tie is more stimulated to eXer-
ton by the necessities of the helpless
and beloved beings who depend ON him
for Subsistence but chiefly because
his spirits are soothed and relieved by
domestic eudeImeuts, and his self
respect kept alive Icy finding that,
though all abroad is darkness and hui
initiation, Yet there is still better
world OF love at home, of which he is
monarch. Whereas SINGLE man is apt
so run 10 waste and selt-neglect to
fancy himself l"wly and abandoned,
and his heart To fall to ruin like some
deserted mansion, for want of an in
hahitant
These observations call to mind a
little domestic story of which | was
once witness. My intimate friend,
Leslie, had married a beautiful and ac
complished girl, who had been brought
mp III the midst of faSl iouable life. --
She had, it is true, no fortune, but that
of my friend was ample, and he de-
lighted III the anticipation of indulg-
ing her in every elegant pursuit, and
administering TO those delicate tastes
and fanclcs that spread kind of witch
cry about the sex " Her life" said
he, shall BE- like fairy tale.
The very difference in their charac-
tcrs produced an harmonious cumhina
tou he was of romantic AND some
what serious east she was NIL life and
gladayss. | have often ticed the
mute rapture with which ne would gaze
upon her in company, Of which her
Sprigntly powers made her the delight,
and how, IN the midst OF applause, her
eye would still turn to him, as if there
alore she sought favor and acceptance
When leaning on his arm, her slender
form contrasted finely with his tail,
manly person. The fond, contiding air
with which she Looked up to him seem
ed 10 call forth a flush of triumphant
pride and cherished tenderness, as II
he dotted on his lovely burden tor its
very helplessnes. Never did a couple
act forward on the path of early and
well suited marriage with a fairer pros
poet OF felicity.
Ii was the misfortune Of my friend,
however, 10 have embarked his prop
erty in large speeulatians, and he bad
notshe~n insrr,e,i msns months, wher,
by, AZ .a.,s,loa a sudden disasters it
was swect awav from him, and ne found
i > u .fes