Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

MISCELLANY.

MARRIAGE

I have often remarked the eagerness of all classes of people to read or hear the accounts of marriages. "So! John has taken to himself a wife," cries one. "Ah, there has been a wedding," cries another. "Lack-a-day, got a husband at last," exclaims an old lady, "So Betty has" anxious to know all the particulars—who married them—who was there—how the bride was dressed, and so on. On such occasions I have particularly noticed that the men seem to sympathise chiefly with the bridegroom, from the cause probably that each has been, or expects to be in the same delicate and interesting situation of the persons for whom their sympathies are excited. The reason is not difficult to explain. There is no circumstance in life half so interesting as that of entering into the holy bond of wedlock. A choice is made of a companion for life, for good or evil, for prosperity or adversity, for weal or wo; or, in the good old set terms of the ceremonial, for better or for worse. Then, too, the new clothes, the solemn ceremony, the wedding banquet, and the nameless delights appertaining thereto, render this period of life far more interesting than any other. Looked forward to, thro' the kaleidoscope of Hope, it presents to the young imagination an infinite variety of splendid and beautiful imagery, which charms like illusions of the Persian Genii in the Fairy Tales. The young man hopes his turn may come, and I dare not sketch the picture of bliss his fancy draws. The girl from budding fifteen thro' blushing twenty up to ripened womanhood, feels, as she hears the account of a wedding, a soft thrill, vibrating like the treble chord of the piano, through every nerve of her susceptible frame. Her bosom throbs quicker, she breathes with a hurried respiration, yet not painfully; no image that she need blush for ever casts its passing form across her pure mind, yet she blushes; her eye brightens; her lips assume a deeper stain of the strawberry; she laughs and wonders what ails her, for how is she interested! The old married people are differently affected, and yet they are affected. Memory busily employed in brushing away the cob-webs of Time (and that Time is a very industrious spider,) from the picture of their connubial bliss. The husband chucks his deary under the chin, and instead of addressing himself to her as 'Mrs. Maulty,' or whatever her name may be, calls her virgin name—'My dear Lucy Howard;' and she answers with a modest caress, which speaks most eloquently of the days gone by. Meanwhile the old Bachelor and old Maid forget the chair is not big enough for them. The old codger whom no one pities but every one in turn laughs at as a fusty old 'bachelor,' very probably recalls to recollection one, who in the days of youth reciprocated with him the tenderest feelings of affection; one who listened to the music of his voice with delight; who watched his coming with anxious eye; whose ready ear distinguished the sound of his footstep from among an hundred; who loved—promised—withered before the nuptial hour gave him the right to pillow her throbbing head in his bosom, and died. Or the lone virgin, designated by the unfeeling world as an Old 'Maid' may mourn in the depth of suppressed grief, a ruddy youth, of manly brow & gallant bearing, whom the caverns of the ocean have entombed, or who, dead to his plighted faith, may have sought in the arms of wealth for that happiness which true love can alone impart. All, all! are interested. But the world! what does it care? those who are intent on gain, who worship gold as their God, and have no sympathies unconnected with lucre! verily they too, are interested in marriages. Sitting in my easy chair, these thoughts were passing on my mind when I dozed, and dreamed a feast was getting up and a large number, it was thought, would attend. Hymen entered lighted by his torch, a crowd pressed to the door, but no one was to be admitted until some satisfactory reason was assigned how the person came in Hymen's company. No one will doubt, said the Minister, my right here, for where would the ceremony be were I absent? and seated himself in a large easy chair. My worship, said the Justice of the Peace, could tie the knot as tight as your Reverence. A merchant followed with bills of rich silks and every variety of elegant patterns for wedding dresses. The Mantua-maker and Taylor close upon his heels. They must certainly have bureaus and probably a cradle, said a cabinet maker, as he passed along. And chairs and settee, said the Chairmaker. At that instant a Doctor appeared. Hymen declared he could not conceive how a disciple of Esculapius could be considered as belonging to his train. It is a source of my most profitable employment, gravely answered the Doctor. There! I have a right too, exclaimed a nurse rushing forward; her left arm bearing a piece of diaper. A shout was now raised by the Shoemaker—the Poulterer—the Victualler—the Schoolmaster & the Lord knows who; among the rest a Printer popped his nose in at the door, allured by the delightful savory smell of the terrapin and oyster soup—'It is a part of my business to publish the marriages,' said he. 'Let them in—let them all in,' said Hymen, for it is impossible to tell who is not interested directly or indirectly. Bid them all welcome to the feast and I awoke. On full consideration, I see that there is abundant reason for the interest every body takes in a wedding: and I hear it whispered, by those who understand the signs of the times, there will be more weddings the present year and year to come, than there has been for many years past.