If that pleasant song is forgotten, it is to be learnt no more: Yet often will thought look back, and weep over early affection; And the dim notes of that pleasant song will be heard as a reproachful spirit, Moaning in Eolian strains over the desert of the heart, Where the hot siroccos of the world have withered its one oasis. OF MARRIAGE. SEEK a good wife of thy God, for she is the best gift of his providence; Yet ask not in bold confidence that which he hath not promised. Thou knowest not his good-will:—be thy prayer then submissive there unto; And leave thy petition to his mercy, assured that he will deal well with thee. If thou art to have a wife of thy youth, she is now living on the earth; Therefore think of her, and pray for her weal; yea, though thou hast not seen her. They that love early become like-minded, and the tempter touches them not : They grow up leaning on each other, as the olive and vine. Youth longeth for a kindred spirit, and yearneth for a heart that can commune with his own; He meditateth night and day, doting on the image of his fancy. Take heed that what charmeth thee is real, nor springeth of thine own imagination; And suffer not trifles to win thy love; for a wife is thine unto death. cord: The eye, so brilliant at even, may be red with sorrow in the morning; And the sylph-like form of elegance must writhe in the crampings of pain. O happy lot, and hallowed, even as the joy of angels, ture, For the guilt of the hypocrite is deadly, and winneth thee wrath elsewhere. The idol of thy heart is, as thou, a probationary sojourner on earth; Therefore be chary of her soul, for that is a jewel in her casket. Let her be a child of God, that she bring with her a blessing to thy house,— Let her be an heir of heaven; so shall she help thee on thy way; How beautiful is modesty! it winneth upon all beholders: But a word or a glance may destroy the pure love that should have been for thee. Affect not to despise beauty; no one is freed from its dominion: But regard it not a pearl of price :-it is fleeting as the bow in the clouds. If the character within be gentle, it often hath its index in the countenance : The soft smile of a loving face is better than splendour that fadeth quickly. When thou choosest a wife, think not only of thyself, But of those God may give thee of her, that they reproach thee not for their being; See that he hath given her health, lest thou lose her early and weep; See that she springeth of a wholesome stock, that thy little ones perish not before thee: For many a fair skin hath covered a mining disease, And many a laughing cheek been bright with the glare of madness. Mark the converse of one thou lovest, that it be simple and sincere ; Observe her deportment with others, when she thinketh not that thou art nigh, For with thee will the blushes of love conceal the true colour of her mind. Hath she wisdom? it is precious, but beware that thou exceed; Be joined to thine equal in rank, or the foot of pride will kick at thee: But wait not for more than enough; for marriage is the duty of most men; Grievous indeed must be the burden that shall outweigh innocence and health, And a well-assorted marriage hath not many cares. In the day of thy joy consider the poor; thou shalt reap a rich harvest of blessing; For these be the pensioners of One who filleth thy cup with pleasures; In the day of thy joy be thankful; He hath well deserved thy praise; Mean and selfish is the heart that seeketh him only in sorrow. For her sake, who leaneth on thine arm, court not the notice of the world, And remember that sober privacy is comelier than public display. If thou marriest, thou art allied unto strangers: see they be not such as shame thee: If thou marriest, thou leavest thine own; see that it be not done in anger. Bride and bridegroom, pilgrims of life, henceforward to travel together, Marriage is a figure and an earnest of holier things unseen, Selfishness is base and hateful; but love considereth not itself. The wicked turneth good into evil, for his mind is warped within him: But the heart of the righteous is chaste; his conscience casteth off sin. If thou wilt be loved, render implicit confidence ; If thou wouldst not suspect, receive full confidence in turn: For where trust is not reciprocal, the love that trusted withereth. Hide not your grief nor your gladness; be open one with the other; Imparting halveth the evils, while it doubleth the pleasures of life, Young wife, be not forward, nor forget that modesty becometh thee: A matron's modesty is dignified: she blusheth not, neither is she bold. Ye have each a soul to be nourished, and a mind to be taught in wisdom, If ye feel love to decline, track out quickly the secret cause; Let it not rankle for a day, but confess and bewail it together: Speedily seek to be reconciled, for love is the life of marriage; And be ye co-partners in triumph, conquering the peevishness of self. Let no one have thy confidence, O wife, saving thine husband: In the joy of a well-ordered home, be warned that this is not your rest; For the substance to come may be forgotten in the present beauty of the shadow. If ye are blessed with children, ye have a fearful pleasure, A deeper care and a higher joy, and the range of your existence is widened. If God in wisdom refuse them, thank him for an unknown mercy : Yet ye may pray, like Hannah, simply dependent on his will: Resignation sweeteneth the cup, but impatience dasheth it with vinegar. Now this is the sum of the matter:-if ye will be happy in marriage, Confide, love, and be patient: be faithful, firm, and holy. OF EDUCATION. A BABE in a house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love: A resting-place for innocence on earth; a link between angels and men: And the bent unto good or evil may be given in the hours of infancy: For disposition is builded up by the fashioning of first impressions: Wherefore, though the voice of Instruction waiteth for the ear of reason, And the habit of obedience and trust may be grafted on his mind in the cradle : Hold the little hands in prayer, teach the weak knees their kneeling; Select not to nurse thy darling one that may taint his innocence, For example is a constant monitor, and good seed will die among the tares. shall approve; For a child is in a new world, and learneth somewhat every moment, His eye is quick to observe, his memory storeth in secret, His ear is greedy of knowledge, and his mind is plastic as soft wax. Beware then that he heareth what is good, that he feedeth not on evil maxims, For the seeds of first instructions are dropped into the deepest furrows. That which immemorial use hath sanctioned, seemeth to be right and true; Therefore, let him never have to recollect the time when good things were strangers to his thought. Strive not to centre in thyself, fond mother, all his love; Nay, do not thou so selfishly, but enlarge his heart for others; Use him to sympathy betimes, that he learn to be sad with the afflicted; And check not a child in his merriment,-should not his morning be sunny? Give him not all his desire, so shalt thou strengthen him in hope; Neither stop with indulgence the fountain of his tears, so shall he fear thy firmness. |