The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-06
For he j. 4 M.-Household.
A Sensible Letter from Young
Md shipn7 anlte'

An error OF fatal tendency on this
subject arises from the extensive preva-
lence of light and frivolous literature
made up of tore fcttons.
Apart from the sickly, vitiated taste
which is induced bv this species OF read
inc. il imbues the youn" with wrong
and pernicious opinions and principles
in reference to the everyday relations
and obligations of life; and in no re-
spect is it more injurious than in the in
tluence it cXcrts III the formation of ma
trimonial connections.
The lamentations and the jGSsoHS
having been principally appealed to by
this kind of reading, and the Judgment.
the undcrs tandiug, and conscience en-
tirclv overlooked, wrong views of love
and marriage, as to its nature. obliGa-
tons and ends will necessarily result.
/ Hence thousands OF young ladies' act on
I the presumption that all such affairs are
regulated by fate OF destiny.
! Their heads are full of idea! beings
such as have never peopled this globe
since the gates OF paradise We're closed
on the first offending pair. Hence their
night and day dreams are full of CT ca
tures beautiful as angels, with forms Of
perfect symmetry. and voices as sweet
as the songs of Eden's birds, and hearts
incapable of cherishing aught but love
and purity.
Visions beam before the mind eye
Of manly forms, lofty bearing, the very
soul of honor. genius Of the first order.
in bosoms that never felt the gust
OF impure passions. the STRINGS of an
ger or ambition.
u
laid aside. and divinity is enshrined
called Chance. and .fate and fortune to
whom is committed the management OF
The whole matter, it is not very wonder
fui that we hear of falling i'll love at first
sight" and of this too. as a thing i'm
possible to be resisted; and without ever
stopping to consult reason, or Judgment,
or prudence. or conscience, in the mat
ter. these giddy ones love to distraction,
and he who would whisper to them the
propricty OF pausing to consider whether
all is right. runs the risk of being
charged with having heart OF ice.
Now this class usually marry foolish
ly. and live uniiappily.
| When these creatures OF poetry aad
perfection come TO encounter together
the matter-oi-iact relations of life. and
find in each other not angels. but irr-
table creatures of flesh and blood. and
I the paGh of life becomes rough and
/ thOrny. and Che yoke chafes because
they d, not pail the same way, then
when too late To profit by the discovery
! they find they were mistaken.
Did you ever see a lovely and accom-
plshcd young lady. the pride Of her
friends. and the delight of the home
circle, her eye a-light with joy, and her
step buovant with hope? She had Civ
en- her hand and piigEted her VOWS at
the altar, and her heart was fully ip the
pledse.
To superficial observer it seemed
that her happiness was complete.
But why is it that a few short months
have withered the roses on her cheeks
Why has her eye lost its fire. her step
its lghtness. you detect frequent indca-
tons Of absent thought-a mind alb
stracted from surrounding scenes, and
communing with untold sorrows:
Her friends have marked the change
with anxious sOlicitnde. and wonder
what can have produced the change.
The shades OF the tomb gather early
!. about her. and an aching aud broken
heart resigns its hold on earth to seek
an asylum i'll the bosom of God.
DO you ask the cause of all this
thorough and speedy ruin:
/ answer, she was mistaken: she had
given her heart and linked her destiny J
to a being incapable Of approaching the
priceless level coniided to him; hci
heart had embarked ali here. and al
was lost. We will all acknowledge thi>
To be Il dark side OF the picture, but Is i
not true in the majority OF cases:
Now. do not mean To insiuuate tina
such has been the experience OF any
+. member of this Household, but suggeS
that many are liable to make this mis-
take.
With best wishes for long life o
happiness for every member. / am
yours most ohedientlv, MID
Shotwell, y. G., July >, 1884.