Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-01-07
The Youthful Bride.

when the young bride takes her welded
one by the arm, and with downcast
looks and heavy heart, turns her face
from sweet home and all its associa-
tions, which have for years been grow
ing and frightening, entwing so closely
around the purest and tenderest feelings
OF the heart. How reluctant that step
as she moves towards the carriage how
eloquent those tears which rush un
bldden 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 fare
well! and oh, how fond and yet mourn
ful q spell the word breathes, and per-
haps 'tis the last farewell to father,
mother, brother, and sister
Childhood and youth, the sweet morn
ing of life, withits "charms of earliest
birds, and earliest associations, have
now passed. Now commences new
momentous period Of existence. OF
this she is aware. She reads in living
characters-uncertainiy assuming that
where all was unhappiness-wherc
home was all in all unto her. But these
ties, these associations, these enjoy
ments, she has yielded, one by one, aud
now she has broken them all asunder.
She has turned her face from them all,
and witness how she ellnys to the arm
Of HIM, for whom all these have been
exchanged,
See hew she moves on ; the world IS
before her, and history to be written
whose pages are to be filled up with tie
lOyeliest pencilugs, or perhaps incl
dents of affecting iuterest-of startling,
fearful record Who can throw aside
tho veil even of three score years and
ten for her, and record the happy and
sun bright incidents that shall arise in
succession, to make joyous and full the
cup Of life, that shall throw around
those embellishments of the mind and
heart, that which crowns the domestic
circle with beauty and loyeliness; thai
which swecters social Intercourse, and
soflens, improves and eleYates the con-
ditiOn of society? o. who, with firm
aud unwayering hand can register the
hours and days OF a1ectiouate and
silent weeping-of midnight watching
Who eau pen her blighted hopes-the
instances OF unrequited loye-the
loneliness and sorrow of the confdine
heart-the deep corrodiug cares Of the
mind, when neglected and forgotten as
it were by him who was dearer TO her
than liie-when all around was dcarer
and desOlate-when the garnered store.
are wasted, and the hckering blaze
upon the hearth wanes and goes out
and leaves her in solitude, in silence anC
in tears! But her affections wanc hot
| slumber not. die not.
The brilliant skies may shed DOM al
their gladdening beauifes-nature ar
ray herself in gay flowers, bright hope
and friends, kind friends, may gree
with laughing countenance and kinC
hearts--but avails nGught. One kint
leok-one soft aud afiectonate accent
the unequiyecal evidence of remaining
loye-one smile like that which wooe,
and won that heart, would enkiudi
brighter and deeper and loylier emo
tions at its fountain than earth with al
its spendor, beauty and gay associa
tiOns.
Oh! young man. even DC to th.
young bride, then, what thou Scenes
now to be dlsappoint her not. Wha
has she not given up for thee: Wha
sweet ties tAat bound heart to hear
aud hand to hand, and life to life, la
she not broken of for thee? Prove
thyself worthy Of all she has sacrificed
Let it ever be her pleasure, as now t
cling with confdIug joy and love t.
that arm. Let it ever be her stay, he
support, and it shall be well repaid
Hers is an enduring-an undyIng love
Prosperity will strengthen it, adyersit,
will brighten and inyigorate 1t, and Civ,
10 it additional lustre and loycliness =
Should the hand Of disease fall upoI
thee, then wilt thou behold woman
devotion for thou vii. witness he
spirit wax faint and dropping at thl
couch. when thy own are falling, she
will cling TO thee like sweet vine, ant
difuse around thy pillow those inhu
ences and attractions that shall toucl
the master springs and noble passions
of thy nature-that shall give uew i'm
pulse TO life. Her kind voice to thy
falling heart lik9 oil on thy wounds
Yea, she will raise thee, restore thee
and make the happy, # anything les
than angel arm can do 1t!