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irresistible longing, it presses on, as if intent upon seeking life in death. Sometimes the mighty current of new joys, hopes, and responsibilities, suddenly flowing in, and swelling the small, still course of my life, almost overwhelms and threatens to deprive me of my identity -until I turn to the fountain-head, and recognize the new influx of life as a kindred stream from the

same source.

Love must have the religious principle in it, or it is not true love. It must be self-forgetting, self-sacrificing, infinite in its desires, infinite in its purposes, infinite in its joys-or it is not true love.

I did not intend to preach a sermon, when I began; but I could not refrain from the expression of my feelings to you, who have been my playfellow and companion from my childhood to the present time. Now, especially that our hearts are throbbing with kindred emotions, I could not help pouring out my feelings and thoughts to you, just as I always have done, as if you were my

sister.

We will not allow this new attachment to supplant the affection that we have always felt for each other. We will prove the truth of what I have always believed, that the more we love, the more we may love, if it is not a narrow and selfish attachment.

I have been so much in earnest that I have forgotten to banter you, as I intended, upon your abuse yesterday of matrimony; but never mind, Fanny; you know my creed is, Better change your mind every day, than continue one day in a wrong opinion. I will be generous, and forget what you have said, as you have repented so truly and so soon. Yours ever,

AMY WESTON.

CHAPTER V.

"Words! words! words!"

HAMLET.

ALL the world knows that there is no calculating about affairs of the heart; yet all have an opinion, and decide upon them as though they were subject to fixed laws; and although men and women will marry to please themselves, yet the public will judge of such things as though it was their particular business, and they were the party concerned. Every one said, when they heard of the engagement of the two cousins, What a pity it is, that they could not change. lovers! Mr. Roberts is so calm and reasonable; he is so prudent, and has such an excellent judgment; he is reserved and silent, so is Amy Weston; they seem made for each other;while Mr. Selmar is so excitable; rather hasty; something of an enthusiast; very frank and talkative; I should have thought that he and Fanny Herbert would have been sure to fancy each other.

SKETCHES OF MARRIED LIFE.

47

Now, as is generally the case, the world (that many-eyed but short-sighted personage) was partly right and mainly wrong. It was true, that Amy and Roberts both possessed a remarkable quietness of manner. With Mr. Roberts, it was the effect of a deep-rooted pride, that would have considered it a departure from his dignity to be agitated; not because self-control was a virtue, but because it was graceful, and was a proof of power and superiority not to be moved as other people are. He was a man of strong passions and generous emotions; but he kept them all in subjection to an artificial standard of excellence of his own raising. There was a reserve want of freedom in him, which had its origin in a want of faith in himself and in others.

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Amy had the same calm and self-collected manner; but it arose from a different principle. She never thought of the effect of it upon others; she was unconscious of the power it gave her;

she "wist not that her face shone." Edward Selmar, to whom she was engaged, it is true, differed from herself in all externals. He was frank and talkative; she was as frank when she did speak, but apt to be silent. He had an excitable, ardent temperament; in her the elements were so harmoniously blended, that all the Christian graces were more natural and easy to

her. But, in all essential principles, they were strictly united. The deep under-currents of their souls seemed to flow from kindred sources, and mingle together in harmony. Selmar's temper led him to commit many faults, but he was ever ready to confess and amend them.

Fanny, who, by her wit, her beauty, and her many nameless attractions, had captivated Mr. Roberts, was so made up of faults and excellences; was so whimsical; so apt to do wrong; so sure to be sorry for it; so unkind in her actions at one time, so magnanimous at another; so without a principle of right, and yet so full of all good things by nature, that one might as well attempt to catch and analyze a jack-o'-lantern as to describe her. She was, however, the only being in the world who had succeeded in destroying Mr. Roberts' self-control, and causing his prudence to be questioned.

As soon as a house could be furnished, and all the fashionable paraphernalia for a bride provided, Fanny and Mr. Roberts were married.

Next to the barbarity of the pomp and circumstance of funerals, comes that of the formalities and shows at weddings. It will be said by some, "Is it not a fit time for a festival, when two loving hearts are united?" Surely, if it be a heart-felt festival; but have our wedding visits

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