The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-11
The Youthful Bride.

Observe that slow and steady tread, when
the young bride takes her welded one by
the arm, end with downcast looks and
heavy heart, turns her face from 'ssweet
home'' and all its associations, which have
for years been growing and Frightening,
entwining SO closely around the purest and
tenderest feelings of the heart. How reluc-<
tant that step as she moves towards. the car
rage; how eloquent those tears which rush
unbidden from the fountain.
She has just bid adieu to her home She
has given the parting hand-the parting
kiss! With deep and struggling emotion
she has pronounced the fareaueN and oh,
how fond and yet mournful spell the word
breathes, and perhaps tits the last farewell
to father, mother, brother and sister!
Childhood and youth, the sweet morning
of life. with its sschsrms of earliest birds"
and earliest associations, have now passed.
Now commences news momentous Pc
rioG Of existence. OF this she Is aware
SHe reads in iisiag characters uncertainty
sssuming that where all was happiness
where home, was all in all unto her. But
these les, these associations, these enjoy
ments, she has yielded, one by one, and now
she has broken them all asunder. She has
turned her face from them all, and witness
low she clings to the arm of him, for whom
Nil these have been exchanged!
See how she moves on the world is be-
fore her, and history to be written whose
pages are to be filled up with the loveliest
pencilings, or perhaps incidents of affecting
in terest-ef startling, fearful record Who
can throw aside the veil even of 'sthree score
years and ten'' for her, and record the hap
Ply and sun-bright Incidents that shall arise
in succession, to make Joyous and full the
cup of life, that sahll throw around those
embellishments OF the mind and heart, that
which crowns the domestic circle with beau.
ty and loveliness that which sweetens So
cial intercourse, and softens, improves and
elevates the condition of society," Or who,
W tn firm and unwaveripg hand can register
the hours and days of affectionafe and silent
weeping-of midnight watching? Who can
pen her blighted hopes-tbe instances of
unr equited ]ove-the lonelipess and sorrow
OF the coniding heart-the deep corroding
cares of the mind, when neglected and for
gotten as ir we're by him who was dearer to
her than life-when all around was drear
aud desolate-when thegarnered stores are
wasted, and the flickerng blaze upon the
hearth wanes and goes out, and leaves her
80, do 10, e;I On foor Rr,t %
affections wane not slumber not, die not.
The brilliant skies may shed down all
their gladdening beauties-nature array her.
self in gay. foyers, bright hcpes-and
friends, kind friends, may greet with laugh
ing cou ntenanees and kind hearts-but it
avails naught. One kind look-one soft and
affectonate accent, the unequivocal evidence
of remaining love one smile like that which
wooed and won that heart, would enkindle
brighter aid deeper and lovelier emotions at
its fountain than earth with all its splendor,
beauty and gay associations.
Oh !jyoung man, ever be to thy young
bride. then, what thou seemest now to be
disappoint her not. What has she not given
up Ll66 w udt SWCcb LIES tudG UUuuu
heart to heart and hand to hand, and life to
life, has she not broken off for thee? Prove
thyself worthy of all she has sacrificed. Let
it ever be her pleasure, as now to cling with
confiding Joy and love to that arm. Let it
be her stay, her support, and it shall be well
repaid. Hers is an enduring-an undying
love! Prosperity will strengthen it, adver.
sity will brighten and invigorate it, and
give to it additional lustre and loveliness
Should the hand Of disease fall upon thee,
then wilt thou behold woman's devotion
for thou wilt witness her spirit wax faint
and dropping at thy couch When thy own
are failing, she will cling to thee like sweet
vine, and diffuse around thy pillow those in
fuences and attractions that shall touch
the master springs and noble passions of
thy nature-that shall give new impulse to
life! Her kind voice to thy falling heart
like oil on thy wounds. Yea, she will raise
thee, restore thee, and make thee happy, if
anything less than angel arm can do it