in
of you for the pleasing delusion; for it was their own fault, of course,
not yours. It behooves you, moreover, as a conservator of the general
weal, to give the young wives that are to be some goodly counsel; and to
aid you in the laudable office of advice-giver, I send you some
appropriate verses, which some fifteen years ago went the rounds of the
press, and met with 'acceptance bounteous.' The moral of the stanzas, I
take it, is unexceptionable, whatever may be said of their execution:'

EPISTLE

ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY JUST MARRIED.

On matrimony's fickle sea
I hear thou'rt ventured fairly;
Though young in years, it may not be
Thy bark is launched too early.
Each wish of mine to heaven is sent,
That on the stormy water
Thou'lt prove a wife obedient,
As thou hast been a daughter.

If every wish of mine were bliss,
If every hope were pleasure,
Thou wouldst with him find happiness,
And he in thee a treasure:
For every wish and hope of mine,
And every thought and feeling,
Is for the weal of thee and thine,
As true as my revealing.

To please thy husband in all things,
Forever be thou zealous;
And bear in mind that Love has wings,
Then never make him jealous:
For if Love from his perch once flies,
How weak are Beauty's jesses!
In vain might plead thy streaming eyes,
And thy dishevelled tresses.

Be prudent in thy thoughts of dress,
Be sparing of thy parties;
Where fashion riots in excess,
O! nothing there of heart is!
And can its palling sweets compare
With love of faithful bosom?
Then of the fatal tree beware,
There's poison in its blossom!

Each thought and wish in him confide,
No secret from him cherish;
Whenever thou hast aught to hide,
The better feelings perish.
In whatsoe'er ye do or say,
O never with him palter;
Remember too, thou saidst 'obey'
Before the holy altar.

Bear and forbear, for much thou'lt find
In married life to tease ye,
And should thy husband seem unkind,
Averse to smile, or please ye,
Think that amid the cares of life
His troubles fret and fear him;
Then smile as it becomes a wife,
And labor well to cheer him.

Aye answer him with loving word,
Be each tone kindly spoken,
For sometimes is the holy cord
By angry jarring broken.
Then curb thy temper in its rage,
And fretful be thou never;
For bro