Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-12-08
Beautiful Words TO q Bride.

The following beautiful letter was written
several years ago by gentleman to bride on
receiving her wedding cards. 1t is exqui>itely
fresh aud original, and full ofpociiy. Though
not intended for publication. it found It's way
into print, and VIC think it IS TOO much Of
gem to be lost entirely
II an holding some pasieboarl In my
hands, Addie three stately p'ucAinss from ,ho
bush OF ceremoDyl am gazing upon card
and pame--a name with which your gentle
life began. a name with which your ihrob-
Linc heart was lost There is nothing strange
about that card. The maiden sign still loss
IN from IL, calm and customary, as. il looked
on many friendly visit. as it lies 10 many
formal basket. am gazing. too, upon card
where the nearer pareut tells the world she
will lie AZ Home one day. aud tha; Is no
thing new But there is another card, whose
mingling there puts tongue Of fire into this
speechless pas,eboarJ, enamelling fate on COM
nlon-place |, tells us that feeling is matur-
ing into destiny, and that these cards are but
the pale heralGs OF coming crlsis, whcn
hand that has pressed friends hands aud
pluckcd flowers, shall close down on him %
whom SIZE shall be friend aud flower Ioreyo.
have sent you few flowers to adorn the
dying moments Of your single life. They are
the genllest types Of delicate and durable
friendship. They spring up by our side when
Others have deserted il, and they will be found
watching over our graves Wien those who
should cherish have forgotten Us. II seems
meet to me that past. 50 calm and pure as
yours should expire with a kindred sweetness
about it the flowers and music, kind licuds
and earnest words should consccrate the hour
when sentiment is passing into . sacrament.
Tie three great stages ol our being arc tie
birth. the bridal. the burial. TO the iEt We
bring only weakness, for the last we have no
thing but dust Bat here, at The altar, where
life Joins life, tic pair come throbtiug mp 70
the holy man, whispering the deep promise
that arms each with tie Others heart 10 help
on in the le-strugc,c Of care and duty. The
beautiful will be there, borrowing pew beauty
from the scene The gay and the frivolous,
they and their huunces viii look solemn iur
once. And youth will come 10 gazc on ali i'f
sacred thoughts pant for; aud age will totter
up to hear tho old words repeated that
to their own lives have given the charm.
Some will weep over II as If Il were
tomb, and some will laugh over itas II il were
a iokc. but two must stand rs IT, ior II is fate,
not fun, this everlasting lockinsof their lives .
And now can you, who have queened it
over so many bending forms, can you come
down at last 10 tie frugal diet Of a single
heart?
4" Hitherto you have been a clock, giving
yonr time to all the world Now You are
watch, buried in one particular bosom, warm
ing only his breast. making only his hours,
AMI ticking only 10 the beat Of bis heart
where time anl feeling shall be in unison, IN
Ill these lower ties are lost in that higher we'd
lock where all hearts are united around tho
Great Central Heart Of oil.
Hoping that calm sunshine may ballow
your ciaspel hands, sink silently into a sig
nature. y. I. ).