Year: 1866

Spring, sweet spring, is ushered in,
bright land beautiful, with singing birds.
green leaves and fragrant flowers All
nature seems bathed in beauty. Lovely
spring tide with its vernal glories One
could wish it were always spring. The
gentle breeze watts the sound of marriage
BELLS ringing jpyfully out on the clear
air. April, of all months. is the one for
weddings; fit type of the married life
with its sunshine and showers.


have a friend, dear young lady
friend, who will be married this month.
Her life has been made up of blessings,
the cup Of mercies has been filed to over
flowing the air she breathed was love,
her home as happy as home on earth could
be, yet she is not satisfied, but must solve
the problem Of happiness in a new rela-
ton. And so it is from time immemo'
rial, the young and lovely leave the homes
Of their childhood, and parents who have
loved them with untiring devotion, TO fol-
low the footsteps of a comparative strang-
er, to live in a love that is yet uutried.


VIII that love be as patient and endur-
ing as a mothers? VIII il be gentle
with faults. slow to reprove, quick to COM
mand ? Truly these are knotty ques-
tons. would | could see into the future,
were it only for this young girls sake.
But an all-wise Father has hidden the
things Of the future from mortal gaze 1t
is not fitting we should know the things to
come in any life. So the young stake
the happiness of lifetime upon few
words spoken before a minister of God.
then 20 away to solve the problem in Joy,
or alas, oftentimes 10 sorrow.


It's not that am romantic in the least.
but do not approve of what the world
calls "a good match " when the heart
is not touched. How can any girl be so
wrapt up ii the world and its vanishing
pleasures, as to forget she has heart
which might make happy home for the
man she loved ?


1t is too much the fashion nowadays
to laugh at love as aromantic humbug. and
boarding school nonsense. The belle OF
a season lushes headlong into matrimony
5 with hardly thought above her dress,
5 and what the world will say she soon
finds her mistake she is happier in
: ballroom than at home, and the result is
D life Of aimless. heayless frivolty. Oh,
We parents, think Of this, when your
, daughters make good matches" " There
] can be no good match" where love Is
r not given and returned.


1t has been one Of my IDEAS. that as re.
, CARDS marriage girl should be left, IN
; great measure, to her own inclinations.
: Her innate sense Of refinement will
: not allow her to love one beEeath her in
social position then why need her parents
} fear ? Let her feel untrammelsd and free,
and her heart will find its lord. Wheth-
| er the object Of her choice be rich or poor
makes little difference her heart goes
) out to him, and she is happy. What
more can any parent wish? Happiness
does not always consist in gold and silver.
houses and lands, carriages and horses,
and all the usual accomPaniments Of lux
urious wealth a heavy heart may beat
beneath a satin robe, tears may be shed
in palace, and sorrow ride 10 a guided
coach.


1t is only too true that a noble woman
may set her affections on an unworthy OBJ
iect BY unworthy | mean dissipated; she
may imagine that her idol can be reclaim
ed; herself the blessed instrument Of that
redemption. Alas, how sooD she wakes
from the short dream Of happiness to find
solemn resolutions lightly regarded, care
lessly thrown aside, and promises made
ully W Ot uIoheu. LIS iSoituA A's@p
and should be prsyerfully considered.


Somehow | feel sad when l think OF
this young girl assuming Wife'y duties.
She has always been SO joyous and light
hearted, so free from responsibility, that
| cannot but feel an anxiety las to wheth-
er she viii regret the entire change.
There is but one wish can make-thst
her married life may be as happy as her
girlhood.


You will think. dear CRESCENT, that
your friend Novelletts is 10 very serious
mood. Even so. People cannot be always
merrg and gay. l am Of very rehee'
i've turn OF mind sometimes in case you
doubt will take to writing serious arts
cies.


By the way, there was an tsdiviluai
who called me green" in the public
print last Monday. Now you know, I'm
certain it was lady. and not young
lady either it was lady, for no gentle
man in this practical world would use
Italian expressions Of endearment; and
| am convinced she is not young Tor me
simple reason she said was green,
I've been thinking the matter ever ana
come to the conclusion am not green.