The Home Journal

"I'll tell you," continued her aunt to Louisa, "two things which I have fully proved. The first will go far toward preventing the possibility of any discord after marriage; the second the best and surest preservative of feminine character."

"Tell me," said Louisa, anxiously.

"The first is this: Demand of your bridegroom, as soon as the marriage ceremony is over, a solemn vow, and promise yourself, never, even in jest, to dispute or express any disagreement. I tell you never! --for what begins by bantering will lead to serious contest. Avoid expressing any irritation at one another's words. Mutual forbearance is the one great secret of domestic happiness. If you have erred, confess it freely, even if confession costs you some tears. Further, promise faithfully and solemnly, never, upon any pretext or excuse, to have any secrets or concealments from each other, but to keep your private affairs from father, mother, brother, sister, and the world. Let them be known only to each other and your God. Remember that any third person admitted into your confidence becomes a party to stand between you, and will naturally side with one or the other. Promise to avoid this, and renew the vow upon every temptation. It will preserve that perfect confidence, that union, which will indeed make you as one. O, if the newly-married would but practice this spring of connubial peace, how many unions would be happy which are now miserable."--Knickerbocker.