Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-16
Love and Marriage.

Trust there must be. Love without
trust is no love at all, and there should be
stout resolution taken against frets, jeal-
ousies and exactingness. The old Latin
grammar proverb, that the ire of lovers is
the refrigeration of love, is dangerous
one, for, if true once, each successive re.
Indignation will be slighter and slighter.
In fact, most OF the stock sayings about
lovers are founded on the uncertain, way
ward, petulant creature that the Every
woman" was before she was educated and
self-restrained The caresses and SQUAD
bles and reconcihations here meant are
like those of couple of children always
quarreling, yet who cannot play apart, not
those of beings in earnest Fretful COM
plants of supposed neglect-nay, of real
neglect-are not the way to keep affec-
ton.
One proverb is indeed eminently and
exceptionally true, namely, that on loves
blindness Some time or other, either
before or after marriage, part at least OF
the dimness will be rem owed, and the
parties will have TO perceive that they
must make the best of one another, in
stead of finding absolute and adoring per-
fiction, ready to have only one will between
them.
Now, real engagement, though not
ratified by betrothal ought to be a sort
of marriage of the spirits, the gaining TO
each of the angel friend to share In
everlasting rest" and therefore the enter
ing on it should not be lightly aban-
doned. That it is not irrevocable is
indeed well, since there may be cases
where the comprehension of each other
was imperfect, or where some unhappy
change has come over one or the other,
and to persist would be the greater evil
but even then there is broken pledge,
and the one who is disloyal has much to
answer for. Once engaged, a girl has
need to take care that her spirits and love
of notice do not betray her into looks and
words disloyal to her lover and unfair to
other men. She may be secure in her own
heartfelt allegiance to him, but to toy
with it is not-only unsafe, but wrong.
Why do say these things? Everybody
knows them, everybody finds fault with
those who do them, and yet, when the
trial comes, girls do them and laugh of
the censure, and throw away-I will not
say their happiness, but-the true glory OF
fidelity.
One more thought. Wher man gives
woman his love in full earnest, thence
forth her personal qualities are so much
positive or negative quality added to his
own. If the motto of both alike be
could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved i not honor more,
the woman will be even here in her own
way her lovers Beatrice, raising and
lighting him with her own spiritual ma
ture and purifying the current of earthly
1pxy tJa of IVY
are hearts linked together "in Christ, ~
with His honor and glory ruling over
their love for one another. They are safe
whatever storms may blow over them,
theirs is emphatically true love, refining
and ennobling each.
The strong man will make all sacri-
fees to the right with freer and more
gladstone spirit, If she whom he loves
goes along with him, and cheers him to
the effort yea, even if it be one which
keeps them apart, but if size weeps over
what he thinks his duty, tries TO find
reasons why he may do otherwise,
thinks his sacrifice almost an unkind-
ness to herself, she may perchance
break his resolution and draw him
down to her own level; or, if he be too
strong for this, she will send him forth
on his way, wounded and sore with resist
ance.
Since vanity and worldliness. or weary,
affectionate Impotence for their union,
may turn the scale in some decision on
some situation of doubtful good, or lead
10 questionable means to secure promo
ton, in such matters nothing is so impor
tant as that her eyes should be clear, her
heart true and faithful. as a course OF end
less evil may be begun, the wreck OF a
whole lifetime.
Yes, from the moment man puts his
heart into the hands of a woman she has
the responsibility of his life. She should
try her utmost to keep her thoughts in a
different region from the conventionali-
ties that surround lovers, and which are
only innocent when they are the mere
outward sport Of happiness, not interior
ing with the deeper, loftier, more solemn
thong ts.-Char!otteM IL. Iouage, IN Church
man.
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