THE PATH OF EVOLUTION 



and affection founded on respest, esteem and that 

 knowledge of each other that will leave but little to 

 be discovered in the better knowledge that the new 

 life will bring. Some disappointments must be looked 

 for. None of us can be so perfect that the balance of 

 our temper, or of our disposition, does not preponder- 

 ate to one side or to the other ; whichever way it may 

 lean may be a defect. Such little failings are often 

 more trying than those of greater moment. The 

 character of each must be learned anew by the other. 

 Most fortunate are they whose only faults are thus 

 trivial ; but from such causes it is said the first year 

 of marriage is often the least happy one of all. The 

 graver faults, if any, are more liable to be due to the 

 man ; the lighter ones to the woman, who is more apt 

 to be irritable and sometimes unreasonable. The 

 change to her is a greater one, and trifling annoyances 

 at times are hard to bear. He should ever remem- 

 ber as Prior writes : " Be to her virtues very kind ; 

 be to her faults a little blind." 



Among the many previsions manifested for the 

 welfare of man, none can conduce so much thereto as 

 when two lives are happily joined as Man and Wife. 

 Although in this connection, as in all else dependent 

 upon human action, the union formed may prove un- 

 happy may have been entered on with little thought 

 or care for the duties due from and to each other, and 



