O, happy lot, and hallowed, even as the joy of the angels, Where the golden chain of godliness is entwined with the roses of love:

But beware thou seem not be holy to win favour in the eyes of a creature,

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 the jewel in her

casket:

Let her be a child of God, that she bring with her a blessing to thy house

A blessing above riches, and leading contentment in its train: Let her be an heir of heaven; so shall she help thee on thy

way:

For those who are one in faith, fight double-handed against

evil.

Take heed lest she love thee before God-that she be not an

idolater:

Yet see thou that she love thee well, for her heart is the

heart of woman;

And the triple nature of humanity must be bound by a triple chain,

For soul, and mind, and body-godliness, esteem, and

affection.

Mark the converse of one thou lovest, that it be simple

and sincere ;

For an artful or false woman shall set thy pillow with thorns. 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 learning? it is good, so that modesty go with it; Hath she wisdom? it is precious, but beware that thou

exceed;

For woman must be subject, and the true mastery is of the

mind.

Be joined to thine equal in rank, or the foot of pride will kick at thee;

And look not only for riches, lest thou be mated with misery; Marry not without means, for so shouldst thou tempt Pro

vidence;

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,

In this, the beginning of your journey, neglect not the favour

of Heaven:

Let the day of hopes fulfilled be blest by many prayers,

And at eventide kneel ye together, that your joy be not unhallowed:

Angels that are around you shall be glad-those loving

ministers of mercy,

And the richest blessings of your God shall be poured on his favoured children.

Marriage is a figure and an earnest of holier things unseen, And reverence well becometh the symbol of dignity and glory.

Keep thy heart pure, lest thou do dishonour to thy state. 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.

Let bitterness be strange unto your tongues, but sympathy a dweller in your hearts:

Imparting halveth the evils, while it doubleth the pleasures

of life,

But sorrows breed and thicken in the gloomy bosom of

HUSBAND AND WIFE.

"O, proudly I stood in the rare sunrise,

As the dawn of your beauty brake;

And I fear'd for the storm, as I lookt at the skies,
And trembled for your sweet sake!

And O, may the evil days come not, I said,
As I yearn'd o'er my tender blossom!

Strong arm of love! shelter the dear one's head;

And I nestled you in my bosom.

May the tears never dim the love-light of her eye,
May her life be all spring weather-

Was the prayer of my heart, ere you, love, and I,
Were husband and wife together.

But the suns will shine, and the rains will fall,

On the loftiest, lowliest spot;

And there's mourning and merriment mingled for all

That inherit the human lot.

So we've suffer'd and sorrow'd, and grown more strong,

Heart to heart, side to side, we have striven,

With the love that makes summer-tide all the year long,
And the heart that is its own heaven.

We clung the more close as the storm swept by,
And kept the nest warm in cold weather;
And seldom we've falter'd since you, love, and I,
Have been husband and wife together.