Miscellany: Starting Right; Or, A Month After Marriage

"Bcforc (hc tyinjcof the nuptiul knot, Lovers may fondiy spucnlnic oh lore, And (lrcam ih&t it mny latiguítn not. nor die. Bui when the noosc is íaston.eJrLOon tliey lenrn That llipy are placed upon thcir good behavior, Kor all iho balanco oi life'd linie day." {Cortcltidcd.) Mout nttentively and carneslly did Maria listen to the kindly expreesed strictures of hor nunt, thfit canto to her n the way of most timcly counsel - counsel thet she ncedcd truch upon the rosponsihilitica of tlio matrimonial allinnce. So coinplclely was her attenüon chainud. that she sat silcni and thoughtful, na f slio atill wcre listcning. for some time after her aun; had concluded. When shc lookcd up and ascertained that shc had done, the scrious air wns removed from her cotintenanco, and t was reanimatcd by hor accustomcd sinile. 1 Wcll done, aurit !' Bhccxclnimed : you have truly read me n most full imd fiiiihful lecture upon the matrimonial stütc. And I do ihiuk thnt your advice is cxcellont. I only wiéh ihat ihe multitudes of imcongenial spirits, the unei]ually and unfortunatcly yokcd, who nre continually snarling and growling at each othor, could ,ivc hcard you. I atn euro thcy would have been odified, and that ihcir improvement would .iftord proof tliat they wcre profited. Dut, aunt. I don'i agree wiih you nltogethcr. 1 am willinp to ncknowlcdgo errur in all that you have so condemnod, but in my theory of independencc. and l will agrec to givc up all but ihat. In that point my proud tpirit cannot yield, and I ain .Mire thnt Frank, who will be mino, I hope, in n few houre, would not have me do it. I have heard him say that hc loved to soe a proud spirted wotnan. No, no, aunt! You are vorjmuch mistaken ; oíd peoplecan bo in error soinetimes. I know vcry well that Frank will lovc me the more lor my independence, nnd I shal try itany liow. i!m for the right start, and 1 cnono'l epoil it by yielding a point so important. !ii(lc)ii lenco, now and forever- married and single. That'smy mono.1 ♦ You are a most incorrigihle girl, Mira,' re plied Mr.. HaUioad. ' You think you are teachahle, and so yon aro when the losson plcasei you, but will not ïonounce your notions cvon when iln-y are comlcmned by :13o and expenenco. Well ! I bflVfl dono wint I could. I have eivjui yu the best idvicc I was nble tove. nml I have cnuiioued you most pnrucutarly upon tlie vory point to which yoúi cling. Now m,irk „,y w..r.!.s ! If yo begin your matrimoninl enreer wirh any ai ís ot indeperdence, you will begin wroug, nud my predicliun s, that jn one month aftor yu are married you will repent t ercl.' ! In one monih, indeed !' e.xcliuncd Mira, ns hcryos flislicd, nn.l her Rp ctiiled, in thc anticiated satisffiction of diKippoiniing her auiit. wlneli she fclt as ceriaia o doine, ns slic was ihit ehc would lie mnnied. I'U sliow you 'iia'arn ! l'll show you liow I símil aharpen Kranks níTcclions by my independenco !' # The bridal wcek wns pnWd by lie youny ot.upic at di! rc8Í(!cnco of Mira's parents. At the end oí the period, thc houc. which was in ihe xturso ol" prcparaiion lor llieir residunce, wac.fmp5otcd, ondthey removed o it, hnppy in thc ihímght tf :etiing up housü-kcciii.r ! llieir own jwcotiut. Kour wocks rolled lapidly by. ni.l iho independí-til bride hnd cominiued no nel l.m wíiat w:is pl'jasíip to her husbnnd. So far Irom givnrg Ilira oíTence, she hu.1 rather cnused ni inrrease of his an?cn by l.cr d.gnified and .'racoÍMl carriage. 'Hic iiionih had ncarly cloaed. and yet tUcre was not the bligbtetí {irospccl, ol thc retcnian;e hér Ait HaUund Imd precíictc.d. I hev heurt Mira cxiulicd n thc triumph which she f.-mcit'd he had achieved. and shc was dcHghred iii thc idea ol disapp'-inting her aut, mul l.lcasrintly rojroviiig ler for thc confi.k-m monitor in which shc had expn-ssed hcrself in rcintion o thc point upon which thcy diáagreed - 'O,' thought Khe. how I shull tcase her wlicnsiio visite me ncain! The tnonth has nearly gone, nnd I have not onc monicnt's interrupiion to my happiness. But it has inctensed and il sliall continue to do so. Thec oíd pcople do not know nuich more than youngones aficr all.' Thus did Mira spcculate upou thc prospect of her piucos.". In her mind 8!ic rnn in a few minutos through years of pleasure, nnd her joy wns almost unbnundod in thc dca.that s!ic liad slartud oxactly right, and mcant to continue so. Poor Mira 1 shc knew not how ofien her independent Miirit had nlmost provoked resistance on thepnrt of her husbiind. No dipsitisfaction hal appearcd in liis bchnvior towards lier, but llie efïoot, not bciug ecun, was no iroof that the causo did nnt exiát. On the thirticth day nftcr the marriagc, a friend of Mr. Walton's, írom a distant city, made him a viait, mul was invitcd to remnin to dinc. "While iho dinnor was preparing, tin: friend took a atroll through the garden. During the walk the vistor cotnplimentcd tho personal nppenrance ol Mre. Walton. The freo and utiaducted uiamicr in which the friend's cotnplitncnts were cxprci6od. gave Francis the opportunity to spenk in exaltcd icrinsof his choico. He rcpiescntcd her as ono of ihc most utniablc and iiitcrcatinp oí kersex, aslovely in her character iind aÜ'cc tioii8, asshe wus in face and person. The friend was charmcd with iho description hc gave of the qualitics of Mira, and congratulatod him heartily upon hiBsuccesfl in securing euch a wife. 'Shc is a pattorn, sir, almost every thing. Raid Walton. 'And sho appears 10 bcduvoied to you Frank,' said hifi fiicnd. ' As inuch os over woman was duvoled to her husband.' 'She is all my own, 3Ír,' iaid Walton, with an air ol proud satisfaction, 'and a perfect child of nature in lier atTectious.' 'Shc must have been moulded Frank, after your own hcart,' 6!Í1 Iiíh friend, 'tho very woman among all the niillions of her sex that was intctuled (or you. She showa it in her behavtor.' No other will bul mine does ehe know,' said Walton. 'All her desircö centro ia one, and that one is to pleaso me. 'Fortúnate man that you are !' exclaimcd bisfrifiid, 'exccedingly fortúnate lo linvo obtaincü such a treasnreof a wifo. Long, Frank, long may you both have Ulo and hcaltli for tlio enjoymcnt oí 'ench othcr's society.' T hus the fricnds chatted during their ramblc for half ati hour, when ihcy rcturncd to ihe house. On entering the pirlor, thcy found Mira seatcd at lier centre table, and pouring ovor a book which sho held in her hand. Walton hunded his friend a chair, and then lurnod to Mira and renchcd out his hnnd familiarly to take from her the book shc was rcading. Instcao oí givinir it to hiin. Lowevcr, Mira closcü it on hm finsers, andthen &natching itowny Ironi him threw u upon the tcblo. Disappointed at such ah unexpeclcd Miovcmeiit, nnd at euch a time, Wnhon's tnee colored. and he turned to a seat in another part of the room conluscd nnd inortified. lic had mado the effort to obtain the book from Miru's hand, for the purposo of procuring proof in fact Lcforc his friend of ihe high cuIogWim he had prononnccd nponher. 1 1 is feclings lell, nnd his chngrin was plninly manifeat. During dinner Walton gpokc but Httlo. Ho appeared ti bc thoughful, and at times absent i n mind. The nieal was by no tnoans a picasant onc ; and ho was glad when it was over. Soon aftcr thoy left the tablc his friend asked to bo excused, ns he had business which dcniandod his mincdiate atluniion. I'rancis proposed to nccompany hiin down the streot. He took his hit and left the house, without bestowing upon Mira tho usua1 oken of his nffection, or noticing her at all. - The purposed neglect of her husband wás likca daggor in the hcart of Mira, and Trom the lighthenrted laughing wifo of a íoud husband, 6he was chungcd to one of the most unhnppy women in the world. Over nnd over ngain did álle think of the thoughtless deedshc had cotntritted, nnd over nnd over again did shc grieve that it had been dono. Sho sought to banish the rcflee tion in attendance upon her household affairs.- Onc thing, and thcu nnothcr, and nnothcr, wcre tried, but alt to no purpose. Tho thing was up pcrniost in her mind, nnd thcre it remainod in spitcof her. At length, exhaiiáted both in mim and body, shc threw herid' upon tho sofa, and burying h;r luce in hor hands, shc gavo relief tolr hcíirt n an nbund.mt diacharge of tcars. For iwhile she wcpt most bitterly, and hcn droopcd iíTmto a profonnd s.leep. The nftcrnoor passed uid thoscrvanr cnterod iho parlor aad nrranged the lights for (lie evening, and sti!l sho slept. - Kïancis carne home, went to the sofa, and lookcil un hor face, whichwas red nnd swollon. The inarks of grief made an appcal to his hcart which lio could hnrdly resist. lio thought of kitJB'mgaway the tcars ihalstolc in her slumber froni her cyos, hut the memory ol ihe injury ho iud sustained in the cycs of his friend deterred hini, nnd he turned and retired to his room, - Wheu Mira awokeshc was siirpriscd to fmd it so Inte; shc looked around for her liusband !ut he was not ncar. The hour in which lie usunlly rclurned home had passed, and sho was nlurmud ihut he was not there to reccive his wolcomc, and tho r.ssur meo of lier unecasing regard.- Tlioughts of the past enme over her. For a moment elio was bewüdcred, nnd tho next sank down. overwhelmed in distress, upon tho place: froni whit-li she liad ju.t atisen. She called a nTvuit nnd asUcd fir JMr. Wr.lion. What was lier fsuipiisc andeorrow whenshc lcarned thnt he had indeud retumed, and lind gono to his ro9m wiihout geeing her. 'Dh ! ' shc cxclaimod, claaping hor hands to"ether in diu-p distr'èfts) it is cruel in Francia to ticitinos. He hns l.ned a thiorn in my hcait which I ai nfmi I will never be removed. I would not have believed it. O, I could not believe lie would ever servo meso.' 'Walkin towards her mirror sho lookcc! ni her lace, and shu'hlercd nt ilic picture of wo it presented. - Shc fixed her hair which hunjj in disorder upon hcrshoulders, and rcturned to her scat. when slic was soon lost in sad nnd fearful mcditntion. The ndvice of her aunt. before her mnrringe, carne into her inind, in contrast with the secne tliat cncouraged her falso noti.ru of independence, and slic regretted that she had not obeyed licr mstruclions.'O, my dear nunl,' shc cxclaimed, 'I now focl my dcpcndonce, and ncver will I rofusc (o be g-uided by your advicc agnin.' She aas roused from hor mcditntion by tlie suppcr bell. Francis and slic met at the table, to eup alono for the firat time sinco their marriage. They lielped each other appnrently with cold indifference, nnd cndeavorod to conccal the cmotion tfat throbbed withinthcir breasls. lt was as much as Mira could do t.o rclai hereeat, and with all her eflbrls she could not prevent the heaving of her bosom, which told its tale in spito of her. The meal was a bitter ano, and though it was soon over, kappcarcd to the agitatcd pair an cndleB task. After supper, Mira went to the parlor nnd F:aiicis to his room, both os misrjr able as they could bc, and both too proud to confesa it. The night possed in gloomy disquietado. To Mira it appeared an age of wrelchedncês, and, in thernorning, her moistencil pillow procl.iimed its Borruwful elory to her husband's toitured iicart. To Hvoid contact witli Mira, and further recog-nition oflier sufierings, Francis arose and went out without lus breakfast. Whrn the bell rnnpr he was awtiy, and Miro, thinking hc might retuni, liad the rolls and cofiec kept at the fire. And there tliey remained, untouched, until noon, for lo Mira the sight of them wasbut the rencwnl of her woes, and shc kept as fur from them as hc could. Shc strugglcd ngainst lier feolings until s-he could no longcr keep her feet . Trembüng in every niuscle, elie liurricd to her chamber, which she liad scarcely entcred, when hei knees lottered, and Bhe feil prostrate upon the carpet. There she remained for several hours in the gre.iteel ngony. While in Ihat 6ituation lier Aunt Uolelcad came in. The senant had direcled her lo the chnmber, and she had approached il as U8uul without giving notice. The old lady etarted back in asiouishmcnt and grief, when she behcld Mira in u condition of tucl mental eufFering. lier face and cyes werc very nmch swollcn, und ehe was bathed in tears, the currents etill streaming over he cheeks. Mrs. Halstcad buspected something like the cause, and apologized to Mira for in truding upon her at euch u time. 'O, uunt,' she cried, 'lm so tnieerablei I'mglad to see you, don't make cny npology for coming, for you are the very pcraon I wish moSttosee. ï have been unhoppy all night, and I feel tliat f 1 continue in this way much ( longor, I shall ccrtainly die Tokc ymir ' bonnet off) aunt, and sit down, nnd I will teil you all.' Mrs. Halatead was too nuich pained to move, ehe ictained her teat and lislcncd lo her mece 8 sorrows. Mira told her tale, representing tho fncts justas thcy occurrcd, and inking great blanic to herself for lier action, nnd for the pride of feeling by wliich slic was nfterwards influenced. Mrs. Ilalstead was too good to add further pangs to the larcerated heart of her distressed niece, for condemning her for not following her instructiona, and too kind to reprovc her for tho omission. Ne ver mind, my dear,' said slie; 'say not a word abontyour neglcct of my well meant srrviecs. üut let us both try and have the , present difliculty removed, and then we'll , talk about guarding agaiiibt the like n future.' What shall I do, aunf!' aekcd Mira, in a beseechir.g tone. 'Whnt you must do, my chüdshe replied, is quickly told,and t is eimple and eatily performcd. Go to your hutbnnd wheu he cometí ïome, nnd ask him kindly to Bit down wüh you, and have an explanatiou of this unpleasant afiair. Mnke acknowlcdgmenta whercin you have done wrong, and say that you are desirous that your little freak should bc overlooked. Il" you do this, I have not tho slight est doubt bul that Mr. WuUon's fceüngs will respond to your own, and that he will ack no wiedde his port of the indiscretion, and you shiill both again be happy. Your actior wa3 at an unfortunate period. It wns before your husband'sfriend, whom he would have to know you as one of the kindest and best otornen, and perfect in all that a wile moum je. I om suro, Mira, that wlien he reflecte lic wül not contlcmn yo-.i so much, nor w:ll you condemn him wlien you hoar the causo thal mpelled him to act as he did.' Mira agreed to cvery word lier ntint snid, and scorcely had she promiscd lo coroply with her directions than Mr. Walton entercd the room. Mira was composcd when he entno in, and she smilcd as he approachcd Mrs. Ilalstead nnd oBked lier to talco off lier slmwl and bonnet nnd stay the evening. Mrs. Jlalstcnd com phed with his request, though she had anotlier engagement. Taking off her bonnet she gave it to Walton, nnd when he turncd to dispose of it, slie slipped out of the chamber, and lefl. the distrersed pair to reconcile tlieir difliculties. Assoon as she was out of the way, Mira npprooched her husband and proposcd the explanation as her aunt had suggested. Walton was tircd enotigli of the affair, and he recrived Mira's proposition with joy. T'ie matter was soon settled. Improprieiies were ndmittcd on both sides, nnd Mrp. Halstead was soon called up to witnes the renewal of thcir affectionate feelings and most hearty fiiendship. Mrs. Halstend staid a day or two at Walton's and she modo good use of hor time in conversing nbout the right stnrt, and the mutual dependencc of man and wife upon each other. Mira nnd lier hiisbohd vvcre bolh converis to her doctrine, and they procticed upon it througli inuny jears of uninterrnpted linppincss. Long did the ropenlant pair rememher nnd enjoy ihe right stnrt thcy made a month after their marringe.