sketches of young couples(年轻夫妇素描)-第17章
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The old couple sit side by side; and the old time seems like yesterday
indeed。 Looking back upon the path they have travelled; its dust and ashes
disappear; the flowers that withered long ago; show brightly again upon its
borders; and they grow young once more in the youth of those about them。
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Sketches of Young Couples
CONCLUSION
We have taken for the subjects of the foregoing moral essays; twelve
samples of married couples; carefully selected from a large stock on hand;
open to the inspection of all comers。 These samples are intended for the
benefit of the rising generation of both sexes; and; for their more easy and
pleasant information; have been separately ticketed and labelled in the
manner they have seen。
We have purposely excluded from consideration the couple in which
the lady reigns paramount and supreme; holding such cases to be of a very
unnatural kind; and like hideous births and other monstrous deformities;
only to be discreetly and sparingly exhibited。
And here our self…imposed task would have ended; but that to those
young ladies and gentlemen who are yet revolving singly round the church;
awaiting the advent of that time when the mysterious laws of attraction
shall draw them towards it in couples; we are desirous of addressing a few
last words。
Before marriage and afterwards; let them learn to centre all their hopes
of real and lasting happiness in their own fireside; let them cherish the
faith that in home; and all the English virtues which the love of home
engenders; lies the only true source of domestic felicity; let them believe
that round the household gods; contentment and tranquillity cluster in their
gentlest and most graceful forms; and that many weary hunters of
happiness through the noisy world; have learnt this truth too late; and
found a cheerful spirit and a quiet mind only at home at last。
How much may depend on the education of daughters and the conduct
of mothers; how much of the brightest part of our old national character
may be perpetuated by their wisdom or frittered away by their folly … how
much of it may have been lost already; and how much more in danger of
vanishing every day … are questions too weighty for discussion here; but
well deserving a little serious consideration from all young couples
nevertheless。
To that one young couple on whose bright destiny the thoughts of
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Sketches of Young Couples
nations are fixed; may the youth of England look; and not in vain; for an
example。 From that one young couple; blessed and favoured as they are;
may they learn that even the glare and glitter of a court; the splendour of a
palace; and the pomp and glory of a throne; yield in their power of
conferring happiness; to domestic worth and virtue。 From that one young
couple may they learn that the crown of a great empire; costly and
jewelled though it be; gives place in the estimation of a Queen to the plain
gold ring that links her woman's nature to that of tens of thousands of her
humble subjects; and guards in her woman's heart one secret store of
tenderness; whose proudest boast shall be that it knows no Royalty save
Nature's own; and no pride of birth but being the child of heaven!
So shall the highest young couple in the land for once hear the truth;
when men throw up their caps; and cry with loving shouts …
GOD BLESS THEM。
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