I am sensible I have enumerated but a few of the causes which produce unhappiness in married life. But the chapter must close, to avoid a wearisome prolixity. The reader will find many other causes of this unhappiness enlarged upon, throughout the entire length of these Essays. The suggestions in this chapter are particularly commended to the attention of the young who have not commenced the career of matrimony. As the bee gathers honey from nauseous objects, so should the youthful glean wisdom, discretion, and prudence from the failings of those who have gone netore them. 66 Happy the youth that finds a bride The sweetest joy of life; But, oh, the crowds of wretched souls, 25 CHAPTER II. CONDUCT TOWARDS EACH OTHER. "Two kindest souls alone must meet, "LET the husband render unto the wife due benevolence; and likewise also the wife unto the husband," is the wise admonition of St. Paul. The spirit of this injunction is, that in all their intercourse with each other, husband and wife should exercise a conciliatory disposition, and should strive to promote each other's peace of mind and general enjoyment. The reason which prompts to this course does not lie hid deep in subtle ethics, but is found in the self-evident proposition, that where two individuals are destined to live together, it is altogether better for their mutual happiness, that they strive to cultivate kindness between them than to live in contention. When two strangers are together, one cannot be happy if he beholds the other miserable. Much less possible is it for a husband or a wife to find enjoyment in any course of conduct which makes their companion wretched. It is a beautiful trait in human nature, and indicates the infinite benevolence of its Author, that, the heart of man is so constituted, that it does and must sympathize with fellow-creatures—that it is made happy or wretched in beholding the pleasures or pains of those around. The more intimate the tie is which unites human beings together, the more deep and lasting is this sympathy, and the more sensitive are the parties to each other's joys and woes! In all instances where the matrimonial union is entered upon with right motives, affection is the magnet which draws the parties together. And it is this emotion that imparts all the sweetne and enjoyment of married life. Without it, matrimony would be an evil, rather than a blessing. A married couple may be surrounded by all that wealth and power can bestow upon them, and yet, without love, they will be discontented and miserable; while the peasant "lad and lassie," who have wedded solely through the promptings of love, and who cherish that spirit warm and deep in their souls, will be as blithesome, as gay and happy, as the artless birds which sing merrily around their humble cottage! Such is the influence of wedded love! It makes the heart light, and the arms strong and vigorous for toil if need be-it drives care and gloom from the mind-it gives diligence and perseverance, and spreads be fore its votaries a continued feast. "These are the matchless joys of virtuous love, In speaking thus of the influence of love, the reader will readily anticipate the remark, that it becomes every married couple to cultivate assiduously that affection for each other, which forms the only secure basis of domestic enjoyment. Love is a delicate plant. It must be cultivated and continually nourished, or it will wither and die. Indifference will nip its tender blossoms, as a blighting frost—and anger, like a furious storm, will uproot it and prostrate it to the earth. It is all-important, therefore, that married people should strive to exhibit towards each other no feelings which may have a tendency to produce coldness and alienation of affection, but should observe those kind attentions, and manifest those emotions of respect, forbearance, and forgiveness, which invigorate the principle of love, and make its flame grow warmer and brighter with advancing years. There is nothing more essential to the continuance of connubial love, than a high regard for each other's feelings. When a married couple are careless on this point-when each treats with neglect or derision the views and opinions of the other-when they indulge in sarcastic remarks, in bitter epithets, and jeering scoffs, and seem desirous to say something or do something to make their companion unhappy-they are pursuing a course which must inevitably be destructive to their enjoyments. Instead of this, they should respect each other's feelings and views, and strive by all means to avoid the least appearance of a disposition to cause pain to one, who, above all others, they should wish to see happy. Mutual confidence between a married couple is essentially necessary to their happiness. In what manner can a husband or wife so manifestly exhibit confidence in their companions, as by confi ding in them all thoughts and feelings that can be supposed to excite any interest? To withhold this confidence, and be taciturn and incommunicative, not only indicates lack of respect, but it is also calculated to produce hardness and alienation of feeling, if not distrust and suspicion. In innu merable instances, jealousy has been excited sim ply for want of those mutual and free explanations of conduct, which should always be readily given by a wedded pair. Every husband and every wife is liable to be placed in circumstances which might lead to suspicion of some evil, unless due explanation is given. Such explanation should never be withheld through pride, or obstinacy, or a suppo sition that there can be no need of it. Married people have a claim on each other in this respect which should not be neglected. Although the husband, for instance, may feel conscious that his conduct in any given case has been perfectly proper, yet if he perceives that |