Year: 1860

WOMEN AND MARRIAGE.


BIZ WASHINGTON IRVING.


I have speculated 4 great deal upon
matrimony. have seen yoaag aad beau
tiful women, the pride Of gay circles mar-
ried-as the world says-we1l! Some have
moved into costly houses, and their friends
have all come and looked at their fine furni-
ture and their splendid arrangements for
happiness, and they have gone away and
committed them to their sunny hopes cheer
fully and without fear. It is natural to be
sanguine for the young, and at such times
I am carried away by similar feelings. I
love to get unobserved into corner, and
watch the bride in her white attire, and
with her smiling face and soft eyes moving
before me in their pride Of life, weave a
walking dream of her future happiness. and
persuade myself that it will be true. I
think how they will sit upon the luxurious
sofa as the twilight falls, and build gay
hopes, and murmur in low tones the now
forbidden tenderness; and how thrilling the
allowed kiss, and the beautiful endearments
of welded life, will make even their parting
joyous. and how gladly come back from the
crowd and the empty mirth Of the gay to
each others quiet company. l picture to
myself that young creature, who bushes
even now at his hesitating caress, listening
eagerly for his footsteps as the night steals
on, and wishing that he would come; and
when he enters at last, and, with an affection
as undying as his pulse, folds her to his
bosom, [ can feel the tide that goes flowing
through the heart, and gaze with him on
that graceful form as she moves about fol
the kind Offices of affection, soothing all his
unquiet cares, and making him forget even
himself in her young and unshadowed
beauty.


[ 60 forward for years. and see her luxuri.
Gus hair put soberly away from her brow,
and her girlish graces ripen into dignity,
and bright loveliness chastened with the
gentle meekness of maternal affection. Her
husband looks on her with proud eye, and
shows her the same fervent love and deli
cate attentions which first won her. and he,
fair children are growing about them, and
they go on full of honor and untroubled
years, and are remembered when they die


say 1 love to dream thus when I go to
give the young bride joy. It is the natural
tendency of feeling touched by loveliness,
that fears nothing for itself; and if ever
yield to darkened feelings, it is because the
light of the picture is changed. am not
fond of dwelling upon such changes. and /
will not minutely now. allude to it only
because l trust that my simple page will be
read by some of the young and beautiful
beings who daily move across my path and
I would whisper to them as they glide BY
joyously and confidently, the secret of an
unclouded future.


The picture l have drawn above is not
peculiar. 1t is colored like the fancies of
the bride and many, oh many an hour
will she sit, with her rich jewels lying loose
ly in her fingers, and dream such dreams
as these She believes them, too-and she
goes on awhile undeoeived. The evening
was not too long while they talk sf plans
for happiness and the quiet meal is still a
pleasant and delightful novelty of mutual
reliance and attention. There comes soon,
ahowever, time when personal topics be-
come bare and wearisome, and slight atten-
tions will not alone keep up the social ex-
citement. There are long intervals of ST.
lence, and detected symptoms of weariness
and the husband, first, in his manhood
breaks in upon the hours they were wont to
spend together. cannot follow it circum-
stantially. There comes long hours of un-
happy restlessness, and terrible misgivings
of each others worth and affection, till, by
and by, they can conceal their uneasiness
no longer, and 60 out separately to seek re-
lief and lean upon the hollow world for the
support which one who was their lover and
friend could not give them


Heed this, ye who are winning by youl
innocent beauty, the affection of high-mind.
ed and thinking beings. Remember that
he will give up the brother of his heart,
with whom he has had even fellowship of
mind, the society of his cotemporary runners
in the race of fame, who have held with
him stern companionship; and frequently
in his passionate love, he will break away
from the arena of his burning ambition, to
come to listen to the voice of the charmer ,
It will bewilder him at first but it will not
long. And then. think you that an idle
blandishment will change mind that has
been used, for years, to an equal commun-
ion Think you he will give up for weak
dalliance, the animating themes Of man, and
the search into the mysteries of knowledge?
Oh. no, lady believe me, no! Trust not
your influence to such light fet.ers. Credit
not the old fashioned absurdity. that wo-
mans is a secondary lot, ministering to the
necessities of her lord and master. If your
Immortality is as complete and your gift of
mind as capable as ours, would put no
wisdom of mine against Gods allotment.
would charge you to water the undying bp1,- :
and give it a healthy culture, and open II
beauty to the sun and then you may hope
that, when your life is bound with another,
you will go on equally, and in fellowship
II