THE EXEMPLARY WIFE. "O, blest is he whose arms enfold A consort virtuous as fair! Her price is far above the gold That worldly spirits love to share. On her, as on a beauteous isle, Amid life's dark and stormy sea In all his trouble, all his toil, He rests with deep security. Even in the night-watch dark and lone, Her household all delight to share The food and raiment she bestows, Even she with a parent's care Regards their weakness and their woes. Her pitying hand supplies the poor, The widowed one, the orphan child, Like birds assembled round her door, When sweeps the winter tempest wild. Her lips with love and wisdom fraught, Drops like the honey-comb, their sweets; The young are by her dictates taught, The mourner her condolence meets. Her lovely babes around her rise, Fair scions of a holy stem! And deeply shall her bosom prize The blessings she receives from them. Beauty is vain-the summer bloom To which a transient fate is given; But her's awaits a lasting doom In the Eternal bowers of Heaven." KNOX DOMESTIC PEACE. "Tell me on what holy ground In a cottaged vale she dwells, COLERIDGE. THE BLISS OF HOME. "Mine be the joy which gleams around The hearth where pure affectionsd well; Where love enrobed in smiles is found, And wraps the spirit with its spell. I would not seek excitement's whirl, The dearest boon from Heaven above, The sunlight of our world of love, Unknown to those who reckless roam. There is a sympathy of heart Which consecrates the social shrine, Robs grief of gloom, and doth impart A joy to gladness all divine. E It glances from the kindling eye, Which o'er affliction sleepless tendsIt gives deep pathos to the sigh Which anguish from the bosom rends It plays around the smiling lip, When Love bestows the greeting kiss; And sparkles in each cup we sip Round the domestic board in bliss! Let others seek in wealth or fame, A splendid path whereon to tread, I'd rather wear a lowlier name, With Love's enchantments round it shed. Fame's but a light to gild the grave, And wealth can never calm the breast. But Love, a halcyon on life's wave, Hath power to soothe its strifes to rest." By THOMAS W. SHREVE CHAPTER V. "Look how the golden ocean shines above "As unto the bow the cord is, HOOD So unto the man is woman, Though she bends him, she obeys him, Useless each without the other!" LONGFELLOW. ON MARRIAGE LOVE AND JOYS OF MARRIED LIFE. SCEPTICISM has been bold enough to deny almost every existing spiritual and moral principle. Not only has God been disowned, the Scriptures ignored, religion ridiculed, but the existence of true and genuine conjugal love disputed. |