, 1876-12-02
Getting Married.

/ m1trlmoDI every rev Nc"'Tf
time they are "of age" nntii they
turn the late corners of seventy or
eighty. d,
But with all this marrying and
giving in marriage, when the results
are footed up, the product, IN a maJorl
ty of cases, is either Indifference or
misery. Out of this we'll known fact
has arisen all kinds of theories IN re
lation 10 social life, and any amount OF
abuse is poured upon the marriage
covenant, especially by those who are
unhappy in their domestic relations.
II never occurs to them that they
are responsible 10 any degree for the
result of their actions, or that they
are paving rhe penalty OF their own
rashness. Neither do the young, or
even the middle aged, take any warn
inc from the married lives around
them. but rush INFO the bonds OF
ma,rimony with their eyes shut and
reasoning powers entirely dormant.
Thus The tide rolls on and unhappy
homes find place in every community,
while the divorce courts pour out The
Disgusting tales Of domestic infelicity.
The marriage covenant is the highest
and pnrest relation that God has given
rs. 1t is the bond OF earthly happl-
ness and the center of purity and
truth but unless It's al,arS are lighted
with love, It's hearthstone is desolule
ami it's very name Is mockery.
The institution of marriage is IN no
way responsible for the accumulated
misery that in many cases surrounds
it. The trouble is that people will
marry for ANYTHING and everything
except pure affection. Girls viii mar
" because it is fashionable, for the
sake of having a wedding, TO create
sensation, to get tteir names into the
papers, or to keep from being an old
maid. What they marry seems 10
be a matter of secondary importance,
hence they will prdmiSe to" love,
honor aud obey" almos; anything IN
the shape of a man or a dandy,
whether his mouth is clean or defiI-d
with tobacco Juice, whe her his brain
is cool or soaked with whlskey,
whether his moralsiare pure or whether
he has no morals at all. And tnen,
because they are not happy, they Wi |
declare that men are all alike aud
that marriage is curse 10 humanity
1t a girl marIies for money ami gets
il, she has 10 right to complain of the
result. Ii love was not invited to the
wedding, happiness will not come at
the bidding. Money Is good in LIS
place, and a very convenient article
IN housekeeping, but it never purchaS
ell happiness, aud nature seems 10
compensate by sending more love to
the cottage than 10 the mansion.
a large eych. quer is nrdetriment to
a good husband, bat don't tor heavens
sake marry fool or a brute, because,
iorsoclh, he owns a few greenbacks
Wealth Is safer after all in a mans
head than in his pocket, for brains are
not Ike other stocks, liable To 20 down
in financial panic; ana fire will sweep
through q block Of tenement houses
while the Investment under his hat IS
left unSca;ted. Bat woman is not
the Only victim who is occasionally
3 sold in the matrimonial market.
Men, who pride themselves upon their
good sense, often marry for beauty
and find it fading quickly on their
hands.
Men who ilatter them selves tha;
they are very shrewd. vii! marry an
idie, helpless girl, in order To get the
few thousands that her father l. will
lng To give 10 have her taken of his
hands. If the bridegroom was a.
shrewd as he thinks he is, he would
rather have his hundred thousand dol
lars all in wife, than 10 take one half
in cash and the other half in dry
goods and jewelry-weak nerves and
neuralgia.
Another fatal mistake is for mi l.
dIe>aged man to marry young wife,
and fancy that his happiness will be
complete. The bride of course has
made a foolish bargain, and one that
coming years will charge with deep
regret. but neither she or her friends
need tlttler themselves that the sacri
flee is all on her side. Incompatible
ty affects both parents alike, and mar
rage If not harmonious and loving
becomes CALLING tetter that both
must endure until dea.h sewers the
bond True marriage is a union of
hearts and hands, cemented with
love that is deep enough TO make
sweet ;he dark passages of life-a love
that is brave enough 10 make cheer
tunesS dwell in the shadow of poverty
and strong enough to make even a
sacrifice for the loved one pleasure,
lhen tho years that 20 smiling by will
strengthen the boni, and the great
sorrows that haunt Iife's pa hway will
bud the twain closer together, and
they will walk through life with hearts
80 warm anl hAnis SO close together
that outside storms and trials will
beat upon them c"mnaratively in vain.
farmers WJRthy.
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