Year: 1861

a
Lock d up in woman love. | scent the air


OF blessings, when come but near the house,
What delicious breath marriage sends forth
The violet beds not sweeter


MIDDLETON.


have often had occasion to remark the
fortitude with which women sustain the
most Overwhelming reverses Of fortune.
Those disasters which break down the
spirit of man, and PROSTATE him in the
dust, seem to call forth all the energies of
the softer sex, and give such intrepidity
and elevation 10 their character, and at
time; it approaches to sublinit-. Moth
ing can be more touching, than to behold
a soft and tender female, who had been AL
weakness and independence, and alive to
all trivial roughness, while treading the
prosperous paths of life, suddenly rising in
mental force to be the comforter and SUP
porter Of her husband under misfortune,
and abiding with unshrinking tirmresa,
the bitterest blasts of adversely.


As the vine, which has long twined It's
graceful foliage about the oak, aud been
lifted by it into sunshine, will, when the
hardy plant is rifted by the thunderboIt,
cling round it with its carressing tendriIs,
and bind up its shattered boughs; so is it
beautifully ordered by Providence, that
woman, who is the the mere dependant
and ornament Of man in his happier hours
should be his stay and soace when smitten
with sudden calamity; winding herself in
to the rugged recesses Of bis nature, ten
derby supporting the dropping heal, and
binding mp the broken heart.


was once congratula.ing friend, who
had around him blooming family, knit
together in The strongest affection. q can
wish you no better lot" said he, with en-
thusiasm, than to have wife and children.
If you are prosperous, there they are TO
share your prosperity; if otherwise, there
they are, to comfort you. Aud, indeed, |
have observed that a married man fallen
into misfol tune, is more apt to retrieve
his situation in the world than a single
one; partly, because he is more stimulated
to exertion by the necessities of the help
less and beloved beings who depend upon
for subsistence; but chiefly, because his
spirits are soothed and relieved by domes-
tic endearments, and his self respect kept
alive by finding, that though all abroad is
darkness and humiliation, yet there is still
a little world of love at home, of which
he is the monarch. Whereas, a single
man is apt to run to waste and self neglect;
to fancy himself lonely and abandoned
and his heart to fall to ruiz, like some
deserted mansion, for want of an inhabi
tant.


These observations call to my mind a
little dometic story, of which was once
a witness. My intimate friend, Leslie,
had married beautiful and accomplished
girl, who had been brought up in the midst
of fashionable lfe. She had, it is true, no
fortune, but that Of my friend was ample;
and he delighted in the anticipation of in
dulging her in every elegant pursuit, and
administering to those delicate tastes and
fancies that spread kind Of wjtchery
about the sex. "Eer lite," said lie, shall
be like fairy tale.


The very difference in their characters
produced a harmonious combination; he
was of romantic, and somewhat serious
east; she was all life and gladness. | have
often noticed the mute rapture with which
he would gaze upon her in company, of
which her sprightly powers made her the
delight; and how, in the midst of applause,
her eye would still turn to him, as if there
alone she sought favor and acceptance.
When leaning on his arm, her slender
form contrasted finely with his tall manly
person. The fond cortiding air with which
she looked up to him seemed to call forth
a flush OF triumphant pride and cherishing
tenderness, as if he doa'ed on bis lovely
burthen for its very helplessne:s. Never
did couple set forward on the howery
path of early and well suited marriage
With falrer prospect of felicity.


1t was the misfortune Of my friend, how
ever, to have embarked his property in
large speculations; and he had not been
married many months, when, by success
sion of sudden disasters it was swept from
him, and he found himself reduced to all
most penurv. For a time he kept his sit
uation to himself, and went about with a
haggard countenance, and breaking
heart. His life was but protracted agony,
and what rendered it more insuppcrtabe
was the necessity Of keeping up smile in
the presence Of his wife; for he could not
bring himself to overwhelm her with the
news. She saw, however. with the quick
eyes of affection, that sll was not well
with him. She marked bis altered looks
and stiied sighs, and was not to be de
ceived by his sickly and vapid attempts at
cheerfulness. She iasked all her spricht
ly powers and tender Establishments to win
bin back to happiness; but she only drove
the arrow deeper into his soul The more
be saw cause to love her, the more tortur-
ing was the thought that he was soon to
make her wretched. A little while, thot
be, aud the smile will vanish from that
cheek-the song will die away from those
lips-th lustre Of those eyes will be
quenched with sorrow-and the happy
heart which now beats lightly in that bo-
som, will be weighed down, like mine, by
the cares and iniseries Of the world


At length he came to me one day, and
related his whole situation in a tone oI
the deepest despair. When had heard
him through, Inquired, "Does your wife
know all this z At this question he burst
T.