" "In the opinion of
the world," says Madame Swetchine, "marriage ends all; as it does in a
comedy;
THE TRUTH IS PRECISELY THE REVERSE.
It begins all. So they say of death, 'It is the end of all things.' Yes,
just as much as marriage!" "Humble wedlock," says St. Augustine, "is far
better than proud virginity." "Never marry but for love," says William
Penn, in his will; "but see that thou lovest what is lovely!" "Strong
are the instincts with which God has guarded the sacredness of
marriage," says Maria McIntosh. We cannot bear this remark too
constantly in mind. You would not dare shut off your supply of water,
because you know you will need it. But you are sometimes tempted to shut
off your supplies of love; and men do sometimes do it, and
AFTERWARD GO MAD
from clear soul-starvation. "Up to twenty-one I hold the father to have
power over his children as to marriage," says Coleridge; "after that age
he has authority and influence only. Show me one couple unhappy merely
on account of their limited circumstances, and I will show you ten who
are wretched from other causes.
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