The Wedding Guest | Page 4

the more they suppose those virtues of the mind to exist in us which the
outside promises; and we think a malicious man disagreeable, however
graceful and handsome he may be. Let a young maiden, then, who
would preserve her beauty, preserve but that purity of soul, those sweet

qualities of the mind, those virtues, in short, by which she first drew her
lover to her feet. And the best preservative of virtue, to render it
unchanging and keep it ever young, is religion, that inward union with
the Deity and eternity and faith--is piety, that walking with God, so
pure, so peaceful, so beneficent to mortals.
"See, dear heart," continued the aunt, "there are virtues which arise out
of mere experience. These grow old with time, and alter, because, by
change of circumstances and inclination, prudence alters her means of
action, and became her growth does not always keep pace with that of
our years and passions. But religious virtues can never change; these
remain eternally the same, because our good is always the same, and
that eternity the same, which we and those who love us are hastening to
enter. Preserve, then, a mind innocent and pure, looking for everything
from God; thus will that beauty of soul remain, for which thy
bridegroom to-day adores thee. I am no bigot, no fanatic; I am thy aunt
of seven-and-twenty. I love all in innocent and rational amusements.
But for this very reason I say to thee--be a dear, good Christian, and
thou wilt as a mother, yes, as a grandmother, be still beautiful."
Louise threw her arms about her neck, and wept in silence, and
whispered, "I thank thee, angel!"

THE WIFE.

ROSA LEE was dressed in her bridal garments, and as she knelt in all
the bloom of her maidenly beauty, angels must have rejoiced over her;
for the spirit of the maiden was in a heaven of love, and she knelt in the
fulness of her joy, to pour out her gratitude to the Heavenly Father, that
"seeth in secret." Yes, alone in her chamber, the young girl bowed
herself for the last time, and as the thought flashed over her mind, that
when next she should kneel in that consecrated place, it would not be
alone, but that manly arms would bear up her drooping form, and two
voices would mingle as one in the holy prayer, a gushing tenderness
flooded the heart of the beautiful bride, and light as from Heaven
pervaded her whole being, and she could only murmur, "Oh, how
beautiful it is to love!"
But bustling steps and voices approach; and Rosa hears one step that
sends at thrill to her heart. In the next moment, the maiden, with the

rosy glow of love upon her cheek, and the heaven-light yet beaming in
her eyes, stood face to face with her lover. Her eyes met his, in that
calm, confiding look of an unbounded affection, and, as her hand rested
on his arm, strength seemed to flow into her from him, and she looked
serene and placid as pure water, that reflects the moonbeams of heaven;
and yet, her smiles came and went like these same waters when the
ripples sparkle in the glad sunshine.
The bridal party moved forward to the festive hall, where sympathizing
friends were gathered to greet them, as a married pair, and the heart of
Rosa opened to the holy marriage ceremony with a sense of heavenly
rapture.
To her it was as a new and beautiful revelation, when she heard the
oft-repeated words, "In the beginning created He them male and
female." Ah, yes. It was beautiful to realize that she was created for her
beloved Paul, and that in all the vast peopled universe of God, there
was not another being so adapted to him as she was.
Ah, this was the beautiful marriage joy, that earth so seldom witnesses.
These were of "those whom God hath joined together." And Paul
Cleves felt it in his inmost soul, as he turned towards his congratulating
friends with his delicate and beautiful bride leaning upon his arm.
Ah, how he watched every vibration of her feelings! suddenly she had
become the pulse of his own soul. As a maiden, he had loved her with a
wondrous tenderness and devotion. But now, as a wife! There was at
once a new and quite different relation established between them.
Paul was so filled with this new perception of blessedness, that he
would fain have left the gay company, that he might pour out the
beautiful thought that possessed him, to gladden the heart of Rosa; and
when he looked his wish to her, she smiled, and whispered to him,
"Eternity is ours, and we are not to live for