TO AVOID EXCESSIVE INDULGENCES. 77 



habitual reserve, which, by mutual consent, they will have built up 

 between them, and which they will be half reluctant to see destroyed, 

 because if for no other reason from its summit they have obtained 

 a Pisgah-view of the "promised land" of harmony and happiness. 

 But the rising flood of mutual tenderness will drown ail these pain- 

 ful memories; their doubts and fears, like night-birds, will flee from 

 the approaching dawn of love's bright day; and the ice of reserve 

 will melt before the touch of hands, the glance of eyes and the beat 

 of hearts throbbing, glowing and burning with a mutual passion of 

 tender affection. The hands will learn to linger in a tender clasp ; 

 the eyes will "look love to eyes that speak again;" until, at length, 

 some sweet moment's irresistible yielding to the impulse of mutual 

 tenderness will tell the tale, and they will fall weeping into 

 each other's arms, with hearts re-welded forever. Then, for the first 

 time, they will taste real bliss, and wonder how it was possible that 

 they could have failed, so long, to find that heaven of mutual, tender 

 and forbearing love, which all the time stood open to their entrance, 

 and which, now that they have found it, they would sooner part 

 with life than lose. 



In all this there is no extravagance. The happiness of this 

 state, whether found early or late in life, is a thing which cannot be 

 exaggerated. It is simply indescribable, because it is more, better 

 and higher than earth has language to convey or thought to image 

 forth. In fact, there is neither name nor symbol for the happiness 

 which man and woman, united by a bond of mutual tenderness, can 

 and do impart to each other. It is simply sweeter, purer and high- 

 er than imagination can conceive, or anything save experience 

 believe. It is the infinite, holy and perfect mystery of existence, 

 into which whoever enters will never say that, with all its sorrows 

 and disappointments, life is sad. And, if life holds' a greater mys- 

 tery than this blissful one, it is this; that any soul, privileged to 

 enter here, should stay without; that so many so-called married 

 persons should live, for years, upon the threshold of this heaven, and 

 die without ever once having passed within its open gates. It can 

 be only because they are blind and cannot see them ; and if, in this 

 article, we have said anything which may help to open their eyes, 

 we shall be glad. 



TO AVOID EXCESSIVE INDULGENCES. 



Married persons should adopt more generally the rule of sleep- 

 ing in separate rooms, or at least in separate beds, as is the almost 

 universal custom in Germany and Holland. This rule being adopt- 

 ed, several very important advantages would result in regard to 

 health and comfort. 



Opportunity makes importunity. For example, if pastries are 

 where they continually attract the attention of children, there is a want 



