There is no one thing more lovely in this life, more full of the divine
courage, than when a young maiden, from her past life, from her happy
childhood, when she rambled over every field and moor around her home;
when a mother anticipated her wants and soothed her little cares, when
her brothers and sisters grew from merry playmates, to loving, trustful
friends; from Christmas gatherings and romps, the summer festivals in
bower or garden; from the secure backgrounds of her childhood, and
girlhood, and maidenhood, looks out into the dark and unilluminated
future away from all that, and yet unterrified, undaunted, leans her
fair cheek upon her lover's breast, and whispers--"Dear heart! I cannot
see, but I believe. The past was beautiful, but the future I can
trust--with thee!"
--_Hunt._
1284
_Advice on Marriage._--An Athenian who was hesitating whether to give
his daughter in marriage to a man of worth with a small fortune, or to a
rich man who had no other recommendation, went to consult Themistocles
on the subject. "I would bestow my daughter," said Themistocles, "upon a
man without money, rather than upon money without a man."
--_Arvine._
1285
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.
1286