MARRIAGE. 105 



CHAPTER VI. 



MARRIAGE. — "THE ISLE OP PALMS." 



1811-1815. 



On the lltli of May, 1811, the following letter was written by 

 Wilson to his friend Mr. Fmdlay : — 



" Ambleside, May 11, 1811. 

 " Dearest Robert : — I was this morning married to Jane Penny, 

 and doubt not of receiving your blessing, which, from your broth- 

 erly heart, will delight me, and doubtless not be unheard by the 

 Almighty. She is in gentleness, innocence, sense, and feeling, sur- 

 passed by no woman, and has remained pure, as from her Maker's 

 hands. Surely if I know myself I am not deficient in kindness and 

 gentleness of nature, and will to my dying hour love, honor, and 

 worship her. It is a mild and peaceful day, and my spirit feels 

 calm and blest. You know what it is to possess a beloved woman's 

 affections, and such possession now makes me return grateful thanks 

 to my God, and remember former afflictions with resignation and 

 gratitude. On this tranquil day of nature and delight, to think of 

 my earliest, best, oh! best-beloved friend, I may say, adds a solemn 

 feeling to my dreams, and your most affectionate heart will, I am 

 sure, be made glad to hear such words from my lips. In my heart 

 you will ever live among images of overpowering tenderness, and 

 to hear from you when convenient will ever gladden him who never 

 felt, thought, or uttered word to you but those of affection and 

 gratitude. God bless you, my dearest Robert, your wife, and all 

 that you love ! " I am your kindest brother, 



" John Wilson." 



I don't know if any man ever conveyed the intimation of his 

 marriage in terms more uuaffectedly beautiful than these. In their 

 quiet depth of natural affection that inner spirit is truly revealed, 

 which, amid all varieties of energy and enjoyment, ever found its 

 most congenial life among the tender sanctities of home, and con- 

 nected its highest delights with a genuine sense of religion. Thence- 



