Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-12-08
FLOR the Shenandoah HERALD
On the Marriage State.
BY J. X. TO MISS R.--
Dear Mss R. G. NJ

BY j. *. ~ MlSS il
Dear Miss II. G. NJ
Thinking that YOU
would soon enter an enclosed garden.
(caled matrimony) and as you are at
present a stranger to this garden"
permit a f,we friend, who has had some
happy experience, to give you some
counsel and account Of the way sc. 1
have travelled every path oft, and have
observed much Of Its products and as
my information can do you no harm,
but may be OF some good, Please ac-
cept it, for friends sake.
You know there is but one way OF
entrance. need hardly tell you that
it is extremely gay and gliltering,-
strewel with flowers Of every hue and
every fragrance, with all that art. or
Imagination can invent. And although
YOU NAV do your "own thinking" as to
the future. and hope that seeds Of pleas
ure will never alter, as you cannot see
the end Of the path, that you have
entered. To some it proves rough
aud uneayen path; but to you | hope, It
will be otherwise. You will meet with
many productions in this garden which
are charming to the eye, and pleasant
to the taste, but they are not all sO.-
Let me here remark, that you are carry
ing into this garden" one OF the most
delicious aud delicate plants IN all na-
ture:-I mean good .amiable disposi-
ion. a good hamor. Don't drop it or
Io,e 1t. as many have dUne. and who
1 seldom, if ever, find it again. 1t is a
treasure hich nothing can make up to
you. when you get to the end of the
! lrst walk, which leads about thirty
steps. commonly called "honey NOON
path. you will see the garden open IN a
vast variety of views, aud here l must
caution you against some productions,
which are nausCous aud nOxious and
even fatal to many Of tue unwary and
inpatient.
In this garden you will find low,
small plant, which may be seen in all
most every path, called Indifference, y
though it Is not perceived at the entr'
auce. You will always know when
near the plant, though you do not see
it, b, a CERTAIN colduess, a ch.lliness in
| the air which surrounds it. Contrary
TO all other plants, il thliyes most in
cold. and dies IN warmth. When ever
,ou perceive this, change your situation
Us snon as you can.
In ,he path is often found that ugly
yellow flour called jcalou-y' which !
wish YOU never to look at. Turn from
it quickly,-for it has the strange quality
OF tlpgelng the eye that holds it, with q
stain, which it seldom gets rid Of. a
. YOU 90 in, YOU will meet many little
, crooked path--but do not 60 into !hem'
, | advise YOU a. friend. never to at
tempt il 4: FOR though at the entrance el
each.is written in lar-e letters: YOU'RE
in tie riqht.u In nine cases out OF ten
YOU will find the trne name to be
, "Perverseness." aud that YOU are il
! the wrong and will not acknowledge
it. This often occasions endless dis
putes. Near this spot you will NEE
with sturdy knotty plant called
"Obstinacy," bearing a hard bittel
! fruit, which becomes fatal wneu taker
IN large quantities. Turn from it,
+ avoid 1t as you would a plague. JUS
opposite to this, grows that lorll
] shrub" Compliance" which though
! not pleasant to the palate, is saluiary
and sweet and produces the most de-
licious fruit in the garden. Never he
Z wlthou a sprig OF it in your hand-iI
2 will often be wanted as yOu 90 along
All over the garden, you may ind
useful plant economy is one. 1t IS oI
thriving quality. Take a good stock
of it as you 90 10. I. adorns aud
ennches at the same time. Many
overlook it, some dispose it and Others
think they wantit. 1t often forgotten
in the hurry and gaity OF life: :-anless
I both partake Of it, it will answer but
little good to either.
Another plant called Mutual Prayer
> 1t is the plant Of plants. Its footsteps
are uoseless as the tread Of angels. L
sheds halloved sayor through out
the entire garden and it leads to the
golden gates of the great and mighty
city, whose maker and builder is God
Yea, it will open those gates and well
come your spirits to dwell with Him IL
.he garden Of Paradise for ever.