IF YOU HAVE THE CONSUMPTION
and the young lady also have that disease, consult the physicians of
your families. A very learned man, in a series of papers in the
_Atlantic Monthly_, some years ago, refused to forbid such marriages
entirely. Put yourselves especially under the care of your doctors, and
follow their advice implicitly. If the young lady, alone, is
consumptive, extend your engagement and wait for events. If you yourself
are thus tainted with disease, I have little hesitation in saying that
it is not manly to get married until you are entirely out of the reach
of pecuniary want without your labor, and even then there are other
considerations of nearly equal importance which should lead you to
frequent conferences with your family doctor.
YOU THUS SEE THAT "LIFE IS REAL,
and life is earnest." If you are healthy, thank God for it, and sing
merrily while you build the nest which will hold the mate in warmth and
comfort. After the harbor of refuge is built, the ship will find a
pleasant and ever-welcome anchorage during the big storms outside.
Take the daughter of a good mother.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228