Year: 1872

What delicious breath marriage sends forth


The violet beds not sweeter.-Niddtston.


[ have often had occasion to remark
the fortitude with which women sustain
the most overwhelming reverses of for
tune. 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 1ntrepidity and elevation of their
character. that at times it approaches
to sublImity. Nothing can be more
touching than to behold a soft and ten
der female who had been all weakness
and dependence, and alive to every
trivial roughness while treading the
prosperous paths Of life, suddenly ris-
ing in mental force to be the comforter
and support of her husband under mis-
fortune, and abiding, with unsIrink-
ing firmness, the bitter blasts of adver-
sity.


AS the vine which has long twined its
graceful foliage about the oak and been
lifted by it into sunshine will, when
the hardy plant is rifted by the thun-
derbolt, cling around it with it's cares
sing tendrils, and bind up it's shattered
boughs, so it is beauti 'ully ordered by
Providence that woman, who is the
mere dependent and ornam ment cf man
in his happlest hours, should be his
stay and solace when smitten with sud
den calamity; winding herself into the
rugged recesess of his nature, tenderly
supporting the dropping head and bind
ing up the broken heart [ was once
congratulating a friend, who ha6 round
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"


And, indeed, I have observed that a
MARI ed man falling into misfortune is
more apt to retrieve his situation i'll
the world than a single man partly
because be is more stimulated to exer-
tlon by the necessities of the helpless
and beloved beings who depend on him
for subsistence but chiefly because
his spirits are soothed and relieved by
domestic endearments, and his self
respect kept alive by finding that,
though all abroad is darkness and hu-
initiation, yet there is still better
world Of love at home, of which he is
monarch. Whereas a single man is apt
to run TO waste and self-neglect to
fancy himself lowly and abandoned,
and his heart to fall to ruin like some
deserted mansion, for want of an in
habitant


These observations call to mind a
little domestic story of which [ was
once a witness. My intimate friend,
Leslie, had married beautiful and ac,
complished girl, who had been brought
up III the midst of fasl ionable life
She had, it is true, no fortune, but that
of my friend was ample, and he de-
lighted in the anticipation Of indulg-
ing her in every elegant pursuit, and
administering to those delicate tastes
and fancies that spread kind Of witch
cry about the sex. g Her life," said
he, shall be like fairy tale.''


The very difference in their charac-
ters produced an harmonious combina.
tion he was of romantic and some
what serious cast 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
eve would still turn to him, as if there
alope she sought favor and acceptance
When leaning on his arm, her slender
form contrasted finely with his tall,
manly person. The fond, confiding air
with which she looked up to him seem
ed to call forth a flush of triumphant
pride and cherished tenderness, as if
he dotted on his lovely burden for its
very heIplessnes. Never did a couple
set forward on the path of early and
well suited marriage with a fairer pros
pect of felicity.


1t was the misfortune of my friend,
however, to have embarked his prop
erty Ill large speculations, and he had
not been married many months, when,
by a succession of sudden disasters it
was swept away from him, and he found
himself reduced to almost penury. For
a time he kept his situation to himself
and went about with haggard coun-
tenance, and a breaking heart. His
life was but a protracted agony and
what rendered it more insupportable
was 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
all was not well with him. She marked
his altered looks and stifed sighs, and
was not to be deceived by his sickly
and vapid attempts at cheerfulness.-
She tasked all her sprightly powers and
tender Establishments to win him back
to happiness but she only drove the
arrow deeper into his soul. The more
he saw cause 10 love her, the more tor
turing was the thought that he was
soon to make her wretched. A little
while, thought he, and the smile shall
vanished from that cheek-the song
viii die away from those hps-the bus
ter Of those eyes will be quenched with