that
what is treated here as a jest, and there, as a matter of skepticism,
may exist in some true hearts, suddenly conceived, yet persevered in,
and permanent.

Some marry for money, others for beauty, for intelligence, or rank, or
family, or fancy; there are those who marry for love. We have known
females, who venerated the object of their affection so completely, as
to mourn sincerely their own unworthiness of, and regard themselves as a
simple gift of God to so good a man. Where one sees this beautiful
self-oblivion, can he be a true philosopher, and assign any cause for
it, save the existence of genuine love? She, who unites to this passion
a provident self-possession, who is as calm, as she is keenly
susceptible, will enter the marriage relation with the happiest omens of
joy, and ever-growing success, in every coming duty.

After these preliminary remarks, it will be expected that I should give
a sketch of the tokens and proofs of one's being under the influence of
this sentiment. It occasions, on its approach, important changes in the
feelings and character, such as no one experiences without being
sensible of their occurrence, although, so close is the resemblance
between love and the effects of a warm imagination, that one may fancy
herself in love, when she really is not. It wakes emotions and
sympathies never before awakened, and lying deep in our nature. No
writer has described its signs and effects so minutely as Shakspeare. If
we may believe him, it is not always marked by deliberation, and entire
self-possession:

"If thou rememberest not the slightest folly
That ever love did make thee run into,
Thou hast not loved:
Or if thou hast not sat, as I do now,
Wearying thy hearer in thy mistress' praise,
Thou hast not loved:
Or if thou hast not broke from company,
Abruptly, as my passion now makes me,
Thou hast not loved."

Love makes the hours, when its object is absent, long and dreary. It
renders even the contemplation of the preferred one more agreeable than
the society of others. A prepossession for a particular individual
usually makes one jealous of attentions bestowed by him on other
persons. I once heard a gentleman remark, that it was this jealousy,
which first convinced him that he was in love. You cannot open your lips
to speak against him, who has impressed your heart. You will inwardly,
although not probably in words, defend him from the attacks of othe