jutfous 
Itart-IjroUo. 
JUST AT THE GATE. 
BV K. DAVENPORT. 
JUST within the gate 
That looks to the rosy dawn, 
Our little one doth watt 
For the sun on the dewy lawn. 
Kinglets of sunny hair. 
And laughing,shadowy eyes; 
Pure forehead, snowy fair. 
Like clouds in summer skies; 
Warm cheeks with health aglow; 
Sweet lips of tulip-red 
Ah ! soon will the bright dew go; 
Soon will the dawn be lied. 
Little soft, soft hands 
• That know no toiling strife— 
1 low wonderingiy she stands 
Just in the gate of life! 
And her childish voice is clear 
As the notes of Singing birds; 
Sweet music, ever dear. 
Her geutle, half-formed words. 
Ah ! wliat n world mav wait 
Her little careless feet; 
What cruelties of fate 
For one so pure and sweet- 
What agonizing care, ' 
What deep, despairing grief, 
May mark this brow so fair. 
And make her spring-time brief 1 
Yet. joy in equal store 
May wait her woman’s heart; 
Hope ever goes before 
To soothe the ling’ring heart. 
And while from present, harm 
We shelter her young form, 
God's ever helping arm 
Is her’s through enlm and storm. 
-♦♦♦- 
CURIOUS MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. 
Since time immemorial, the customs ante¬ 
cedent to and at tendant upon marriage have 
hern widely different, in different lands and 
among different, peoples, and have excited 
universal interest. Not always the sacred 
and holy thing it. is regarded now, by all the 
right-minded and upright, marriage lias been 
in all ages an Important, and significant con¬ 
summation, and as such has been generally 
observed with significant ceremonials. A 
volume recently published, entitled “The 
Wedding Day in All Ages and Countries,” 
tells of these ceremonials, and we collate 
from it some of the most uncommon and 
curious. 
A law of Solon, at an early day in Greece, 
required that the new ly wedded pair, on first 
entering the bridal chamber, should cat a 
quince together, to Indicate that their mutual 
relationship should be sweet and agreeable. 
If the indication was always a true one, and 
had any lasting after-influence, would it not 
be wise to revive this ancient law ? 
Tn Chaldea, on the wedding day, the priest 
entered the bridegroom's house and kindled 
a tire, which it was thought ought never to 
be put out until tile death of one of the pair. 
If, during the life of both, the fire did die 
out, it was deemed a sign that their marriage, 
was annulled. Hence, as a writer said in 
1581, the expression,— “ Provoke me not too 
much lest 1 throw water on the lire.” 
In Assyria all marriageable young girls 
were assembled in a public place, and the 
crier put them up at auction. The sum re¬ 
ceived for those who were handsome, and 
therefore sold well, became the wedding por¬ 
tion of those who were lacking in good 
looks; and as money, then, as now, had an 
attraction even in a matrimonial way, all 
voung women found husbands. I his custom 
after presenting wine and bread to each, cut 
the thread by which their garments were 
united, and the ceremony was at an end. 
A Hindu marriage is attended with many 
ceremonies, w hich are not especially interest¬ 
ing, in the main. Chief among these are the 
tying together of the hands ot the bride and 
bridegroom with sacred grass; the taking ot 
seven steps by the bride, a particular text 
being repeated for each ; and the tying into 
a knot of the skirts of the mantles of the 
pair. The seven steps are the essential fea¬ 
ture; and when these are taken, the mar¬ 
riage is indissoluble, though there are weari¬ 
some details which come after. 
It was customary in Russia, at one time, 
for brides to present their lords a whip, upon 
their wedding day, in token ot submission. 
Among the Kalmucks, marriage is performed 
on horseback. The.girl is first put upon a 
horse, when she rides off at lull speed, her 
lover pursuing. If lie overtakes her, the 
marriage ensues, ami she returns to his tent. 
If she dislikes Min, she is pretty sure to dis¬ 
tance him in the race, rifling as for life. 
Vaughan, writing in 1(108, said;—“The 
antient Frenchmen had a ceremonie, that 
when they would marric, I he bridegrome 
should pare his nayles and send them unto 
his new wife; which done, they lived to¬ 
gether afterwards as man and wife.” 
There have been some singular statutory 
provisions in regard to marriage. An Act 
of the Scottish Assembly in 1000 was to the 
effect that men (?) should not marry under 
the age of fourteen years, or women (?) under 
the age of twelve years. Marriages have 
Social (Topics. 
NATIONAL TEMPERANCE. 
It is not what is put on his back, but what 
he puts into his stomach, t hat decides the 
character of a man. His status is not solely 
a question of brains. For he limy be an 
undoubted genius, with brain-power suf¬ 
ficient to stock a whole average community, 
and not know enough to treat his stomach 
as though it belonged to a sensible person. 
Vex ourselves as much as we may in re¬ 
gard to the mat ter of Temperance,—legislate 
as thoroughly as wo choose to, pass as many 
prohibitory laws as we may see fit, —it is, 
and ever will be, a question of the stomach ; 
and only as such, and beginning at the. very 
outset of it when so considered, can it lie ef¬ 
fectually treated. 
“ Rat what absurd superfluity you are ad¬ 
vancing!” says one. “ As though Temper¬ 
ance were ever regarded as other than a 
question of the stomach!” 
Yet, not so fast, good friend, neither be 
quite so critical. Temperance is not always 
held as you intimate. When legislation lays 
hold upon it, it becomes then purely a ques¬ 
tion of will. Prohibition says to the drunk¬ 
ard “ You shall not drink rum ;” and nl once 
there Is arrayed the will of the Paw against 
the desire of the map. Is the Temperance 
wh ich follows, laying aside all technicality of 
words, a temperance of the stomach? Not 
at all. If there were anything of the Btom- 
MEMORIALS OF LIFE. 
No matter what may he your sphere in 
life, you may so act, work, in it as to secure 
some good result. In our mere contact, with 
others, as friend or acquaintance, we may 
produce an influence which shall remain an 
ever fresh memorial of a soul illumed with 
truth and purity. No stately monument may 
rise to grace the spot of earth which in¬ 
closes our ashes, but our name may lie en¬ 
shrined amid the sweetest, associations in the 
deepest recesses of loving hearts. Tis true 
that 
The evil that men do lives after them 
hut what, a legacy! crushing, blasting, with¬ 
ering much that would otherwise have been 
good! How great the accountability ot 
those who wield a potent influence for nefa¬ 
rious ends! 
“ The memory of the just is blessed." 
Let, this august yet inspiring truth he 
prominently fixed in our minds. How 
vividly illustrated it is by the examples of 
those holy men who far back in the centu¬ 
ries sought to promote the welfare of others 
rather than exalt themselves!—whose very 
nobility and power grew out ot their saintly 
lives, whose names arc as fresh now us the 
dews which still brighten the hillside where 
once their feet pressed the springing grass, 
and whose good deeds and ringing precepts 
stimulate us to lives of Christian manliness 
and virtue!— [ Phrenologicud Journal. 
-*-*-♦- 
COLOR OF THE EYES. 
Baku, an eminent German physician and 
isabbatlj jjrabing. 
>-Vv V'l ) '*■* 
DAY BY DAY. 
We call the Present ours. 
The golden Now, (ho all wo may possess; 
The Past will oomo no moro to blight or bless. 
Except by memory's powers. 
To-morrow we may lie 
As senseless and as cold as gleaming snow. 
With spirits further from all things below 
Than is the fair blue sky. 
We know the days that sweep 
So swiftly by. epitomes of life; 
In each we llml some hope unci love, some strife. 
And pain and shadows deep. 
In each are typitied 
The youthful freshness and the bustling caro 
Of life's meridian, and age's prayer 
For rest at event ide. 
And lastly over all 
The night’s dark shadows fall,—the day is done; 
Its lasting meed ot praise or pain is won, 
Its doings past recall. 
Help us. o God ! We pray, 
To spend our day so that death's mystic dream 
Be peacethat we awake to light supreme, 
To everlasting day! 
- — - 
PENALTIES FOR SIN. 
The law of compensation is just, and ii is 
wide-reaching. There is nothing horn out 
of naught; there is no good or ill but has 
its recompense. Patience hath its reward 
sooner or later , condmttmco in well-doing 
finally works out, an abundance of joy; and 
persistence in wickedness wins, sooner or 
later, the penalties which it wuns. 
In so far as men accept grievous woes us 
been recorded in Scotland since, however, ach it would bo i n temperance; for the pei- oculist, says that blue eyes are capable of Insofar as men accept grievous woes as 
where the parties were aged respectively verted cravings of that organ are stlong as supporting a much longer and more violent pm-,Hies for their transgressions, rather than 
only eleven and thirteen years. An old ever, ami are only unsatisfied because tbC will tension than black eyes. The strength and jm dark and incomprehensible all! iet ions, will 
Welsh law provided for wifely discipline, on the law is (wo will suppose,) strongei still, duration of thG sight depend on the different. q lt .y jjc profiles I and made better thereby, 
the part of the husband, by decreeing that ho The. stomach is the man’s master. It is a color of the eyes, and that depends upon a Bosses and crosses, and trials and tribula- 
might administer three blows with a stick humiliating fact, and it cuts keenly the pride g lCft tcr or less degree of clearness of the q onH , m . common to each of us, and they 
upon any portion of licr body but her head; ot brains; but it is truly and undeniably "a pupil, as the defects <>t the sight depend ; n> ( . fid, purposeless. They arc so common, 
but it was modified by another law, which fact. Look at the evidences of it. See poor ()n a color move or less dark. indeed, that wc forget what their purpose 
prescribed that the slick should not be longer Foe staggering down the crooked way of U results that in this point of view blue maybe, and are content only to weep over 
than the husband's arm, or thicker than liis dissipation, its fearful darkness hut, half illu- eyes are infinitely better than black. The them. Wo call them “dispensations of Prov- 
luiddle finger! mined and made to look, more fearful yet by former, therefore, possess in a more end- idence," but with so vague an idea of what a 
--- the flushes of his wonderful genius,—a genius nont, degree than the latter the perfections dispensation really Is that the term aiguilles 
THE COMING GIRL. so powerful that, had it not been coupled to adapted to llicir fhncfions. The same author nothing, and our recognition of it implies 
a stomach even more powerful, might have has also remarked that black eyes arc more simply that trust which receives because it 
Mum has been said of the Coming Man placed its possessor among the most, honored subject to cataracts; and be also observes cannot reject, 
and the Coming Woman. The Church of the earth. Ah! the terrible array of ox- that out- Of twenty persons with black eyes Dispensations of Providence are God's 
Union thus pointedly treats of the Coming amplest Wc do not need to recite the list, you find not, one that is perfectly satisfied distributions of justice to men ; and ns justice 
Girl: It is familiar to all. It. has been wept over with them. In this particular, then, it. must abides ever iu the law of compensation, each 
She will vote, he of some use in the by many and many a sorrowing heart. It is be admitted that blue eyes are bet ter adapted dispensation unto us is but our just due 
world, will cook her own food, will earn being added to from year to year with a to their purpose than black ones. The laborer Is worthy of his hire.; if ho doelh. 
her own living, and will not die an old frequency which is indeed appalling. -♦♦♦- t . v il pis wages will he of evil. It is hut. 
Union thus pointedly treats of the Coming 
Girl: 
She will vote, he of some use in the 
world, will cook her own food, will earn 
her own living, and will not, die an old 
Maid. The Coining Girl will not wear 
the Grecian bend, dance the German, ig¬ 
nore all possibilities of knowing how to 
Aye, the stomach is the mail’s master, and 
the stomach knows nothing of the logic of 
law. Its reason is the reason of habit. The. 
work; will not endeavor to break the hearts only legislation which it can perfectly un 
of unsophisticated young men, will spell 
correctly, understand English before she 
affects French, will preside with equal grace 
at the piano or washboard, M ill spin more 
yarn for the house than for the street, wi 11 
not despise her plainly dressed mother, her 
demand is that of the individual alone, and 
is summed up in his decree against the form¬ 
ation of all unwise stomachic habits. Rarely 
does the‘stomach crave what it has never 
tasted. And what it has been educated to 
love, that will it desire, however eloquently 
poor relations, or the hand of an honest, legislators may declare it shall not. 
worker; will wear a bonnet; speak good, 
plain, unlisping English; will darn her own 
stockings; will know how to make dough¬ 
nuts; and will not read the Ledger ol'toner 
than she does her Bible. 
The Coming Girl will walk five miles a 
day, if but to "keep her cheeks in a glow; 
will mind her health, her physical develop¬ 
ment and her mother; will adopt a costume 
At, the best, legislation falls short of its in¬ 
tention. Habit asserts itself; the law is 
somehow evaded; the man is finally con¬ 
quered. Legislation is not what, we most 
need to-day. If good at all, it is good simply 
THE SILENT CONFLICTS OF LIFE. 
A tiuumiti in the field is a theme for 
poetry, for painting, for history, for all the 
eulogists and aggrandizing agencies whose 
united tribute constitutes Fame; but, there 
are victories won by men over themselves 
more truly honorable, to the conquerors than 
any that can he achieved in war. Of these 
silent, successes we never hear. The battles 
in which they arc obtained are fought in 
solitude and without, help, save from above. 
The conflict is sometimes waged in the still 
watches of the night, and the struggle is 
often fearful. Honor to every conqueror in 
such a warfare ! Honor to the man or wo- 
dispensation unto us is but our just due 
The laborer is worthy of his hire ; if he doelh 
evil his wages will he of evil. It is hut 
natural, perhaps, that when some dearly- 
prized treasure is taken away from irs, we 
should murmur in bitterness of spirit, and 
cry out against the great Dispenser. K is 
but natural, because we are human, and love 
for our kind is the deepest instinct of our 
humanity. But when wc get. a little way 
removed from our sorrow,—when it has be¬ 
come a thing of yesterday, ns thank Goo 
sorrows will!—wc shall sec how tin-crush¬ 
ing of our love was altogether right, and 
how fully, by pride, or wo rid incss, or neglect 
of duty, or indifference to divine callings, 
we bad earned what wc have received. 
We xhall see this? Not certainly, but we 
ought to. We shall, if through saving grace 
as a make-shift. It will never build up a man who tights temptation, hatred, envy, our Christianity is not a name, but a breath 
National Temperance. It is not the ground¬ 
work upon which to create a temperate 
people. There must be a continual plea 
against the Habit, and its formation. The 
therefore sold well, became the wedding por- both sensible and conducive to comfort and against the Habit, and its formation. The 
tion of those who were lacking in good health; will not. confound hypocrisy with young must have deeply inwrought into 
looks; and as money, then, as now, had an politeness; will not place lying to please their very natures the truth that there is no 
attraction even in a matrimonial way, all above frankness; Mill have courage to cut safety in entering, however slightly or rare- 
young women found husbands. This custom an unwelcome acquaintance; will not think |y, to aught that is debasing. For every 
M ils doubtless an effectual guard against the refinement is French duplicity, that assumed youthful life, especially, possibilities are full 
prevalence of old maids. hospitality, where hate dwells in the heart, is to overflowing of promise; and what the 
In modern Egypt, a woman can never be better than condemnation; M ill not confound promise sha II bring is for each to determine, 
seen by her future husband until alter the grace of movement with silly affectation; The drunkard in the gutter,—a sickening 
marriage, being always closely veiled. On will not regard the end of her being to have reality to himself,—is a sad possibility to 
the day before the wedding, she goes instate a beau. every young man who presses to his lips 
to a bath, walking under a canopy ot silk The Coming Girl will not look to Paris, whatever may intoxicate. Let this fact, 
carried by four men. Following the bath but to reason, for her fashions; will not aim trite though it is, be home in mind by-all. 
the bride, bridegroom and their friends have to follow a foolish fashion because milliners Let it be repeatedly impressed upon the 
a supper; after which a quantity ot henna -md dressmakers decreed it; will not. torture young by those who arc responsible for their 
paste is spread on the bride’s hands, and the j ier body, shiver her soul with puerilities, or well-being now and their well-doing by-and- 
guests make her contributions by sticking ru j n p with wine and pleasure. In short, by. Let parents say to their bright but 
coins on the paste. When her hands are (joining Girl will seek to glorify her over-conscious boys;—“It is just possible 
covered, the money is scraped off. On the J \i ;l ] iel - ) am ] q, enjoy, mentally, Ilis works, that your self-control may bo greater than 
day of the wedding the bride goes in proces- Duty will be her aim, and life a living reality, that, of all others M ho have gone before you; 
selfishness back to its last covert in the heart, j n g v it}ilit.y,* if by the logic of love, spiritual 
and thence excels forever! Although no !iml vo f m ing, and tending heavenward, wo 
outward show of honor accrues to the vie- conic tu m 0 gniy,o. Divine conclusions as til 
tors in these good fights, they have their together M'ise ami righteous. And if we do 
reward — a higher one than Fame can be- no ^—q j- or u 10 treasure lost, and the, hope 
stow. They come out of the combat self- unattained, and the joy taken from us, wn 
ennobled._ _ continue to lament bitterly,—if, instead of a 
HOME RIGHTLY REGARDED. prayer, our soul semis up dally.a phi"!, ami 
says to its God l hou art unjust, ami deal 
In an article in a. recent issue of the in vengeance rather than justice, —then this 
Watchman and Reflector it was well said our new and oil repeated sin will, of a ccr- 
1 hat the true idea of homo is not a boarding tainty, bring its reward; either here, or in 
the bride, bridegroom and their friends have 
a supper; after which a quantity of henna 
paste is spread on the bride's hands, and the 
guests make her contributions by sticking 
coins on the paste. When her hands are 
covered, the money is scraped off. On the 
day of the wedding the bride goes in proces¬ 
sion to the bridegroom's house; and at night, 
when the bridegroom returns from prayers 
at tlie mosque, he is first introduced to, and 
left alone with, the bride. Then, having 
paid for the privilege by giving her money, 
he first lifts the shawl from her face. 
A Circassian bride was conducted to the 
bridegroom’s house by her relatives, messen¬ 
gers being sent on before to announce her 
coming. These messengers were presented 
THE TENNESSEE HERMITESS. 
A strange woman has just died in Ten¬ 
nessee, named Rebecca Freeman. While 
yet in her teens, aild an orphan, she wits 
engaged to be married; but Iter lover died, 
and she betook herself to a cabin bullion the 
top of a high and rugged hill, in nil almost 
impenetrable forest, where she lived the life 
but it. is more Ilian possible that if you form 
a liking for strong drink your stomach will 
prove stronger than your brains, or your 
will, or the will of the statutes, therefore 
touch not, taste not, handle not.” 
We need a new infusion of life into pub¬ 
lic. opinion on this subject. From families, 
and t ho community at large, there should 
emanate a more definite lone, a healthier, 
purer influence, a more decided and em- 
honse, but, a private dwelling, wherein fiither, 
mother and children arc engaged in the en- 
tcrchange of offices of love, in leaching and 
learning the lessons of religion, the rules of 
life, and in forming habits of morality and 
industry. lie who “ setteth the solitary in 
a house” designs the home for the place 
of honor; of love, of authority, of ohedi 
cnee, of the tenderest. relations, and of a 
permanent, beneficieut, formative influence, 
ib; intended it, should bo the surest founda¬ 
tion of national life, and the best nursery of 
individual character. 
--♦♦♦- 
"W iiat a Book Should Be. —Mrs. E. 
Oakes Smith lias well said ; — “A book 
should he a live creation, or it, is valueless 
If the author has not smiled or wept, suffered 
the pangs aud the sorrows of his own crea¬ 
tion, bleeding at the heart, or rejoicing in 
spirit, he may have produced a most perfect 
the long hereafter, we shall pay the penalty. 
. - -♦♦♦ - 
BUSINESS A MEANS OF GRACE. 
Instead of business becoming a feeder to 
covetousness under the promptings of nature, 
it, must become a stimulus to benevolence 
under the promptings of grace. Dr. Hawes 
in his biography of Norman Smith, a mer¬ 
chant in his congregation, says he never 
grew in grace more rapidly,or shone bright! r 
as a Christian than during the last six or 
seven years of Ids life, when ho had the 
greatest amount of business on his hands. 
From the time when he devoted all to God, 
and resolved to pursue his business as a 
part of his religion, he found no tendency in 
his worldly engagements to chill his piety or 
enchain his att'ections to earth. II is business 
became, to him a means of grace, and helped 
him forward in the divine life, just, as truly 
with food and Mine, which they poured of a hermit until her death, at the age ol phatic declaration in favor of Total A’bsti- pj ( > C( . of statuary or of mosaic, but he lias as the reading ot the bciiptuies and pi.tj' i. 
round the house as an offering for the about- 
to-be-wedded couple’s prosperity. The bridal 
party was shown into an apartment, on ar¬ 
rival, in the middle of which were a pitcher 
of wine and a vessel full of bread dough. As 
soon as she had entered this room, the bride 
kicked over the wine, and. scattered the paste, 
about with her hands. The marriage cere¬ 
mony was then performed in a private room, 
by a priest, who_sewed the garments of the 
two together, crowned them both with flow¬ 
er-, changing the crowns several times, and, 
Qmtmi 
seventy-two. She kept the white slippers uencc. Legislation has been tried time and 
and the apparel in which she was to have again ; all its various forms have been tested ; 
been made a happy bride until the day of y C t without the marked and radical good 
her death, and would brood over thestfj 
remembrances tor a half day at a time 
Whenever the spirit of sadness fastened up¬ 
on her she went to her door and blew a long 
tin horn, bequeathed to her by her mother, 
for hours at a time. 
-- 
When is the wife like a great-coat ? When 
I the husband is wrapped up in her. 
resultant which was in each instance fondly 
anticipated. The radical good will never 
result from it. The root of the whole mat¬ 
ter lies further hack, and to that wo must, 
go. If strict Temperance be thoroughly in¬ 
culcated, as a deep, abiding principle, essen¬ 
tial to individual welfare and a necessity to 
the public, weal, legislation concerning it will 
be utterly superfluous. 
breathed no breath of life into the creation r .... 
In, lias made." Reuo.ovh L,m .- I to Omhuoa I ,0 
_4.4.4_ easiest to live m according to the world, arc 
Too True.—Buigiiam Young, in a recent the most dilHcult according to God: and 
sermon said:—“Among this people, called vice versa. Nothing is so difficult, according 
tiio Latterday Saints, when the devil has got to the world, as the religious Hte ; nothing is 
the crowns, sovereigns, guineas and the coaler, according to God. Nothing is more 
twenty dollar pieces, it has been all right; easy than to live iu a high position, and to 
hut let the Lord get a sixpence and there is have great wealth, according to the world 
an eternal grunt about it.” Which true nothing is moreditUcult than to live in them 
statement may be given a very general up- according to God, without taking part and 
plication, pleasure in them.— Pascal, 
