1838.] WELSH SCENERY, &c. LINES ON HAVING FELT DECAY IN RELIGIOUS HAPPINESS. CAN it be thus-have I then fled so far From the bright path where heavenly glories are- Ah! why this change?-is heav'n then not the same, Is the word alter'd, is the Book of God, Or the path chang'd which every saint has trod ? But let me pause, ere yet the last faint ray Seek Thy lost sheep-my wand'ring footstep lead: N. B. 87 WELSH SCENERY,-WELSH KINDNESS, AND A WELSH DOG. MR. EDITOR, As we know that you are anxious to discourage all selfishness and greediness of gain amongst the poor, and as you have shown, in your very useful work, your love of disinterestedness, and a desire to oblige amongst your cottage readers, we take the liberty of sending you the following short account. We are two ladies living near Bangor in Carnarvonshire. Some weeks since, we assembled a few friends, and, taking a little provision with us, we set off for a day's excursion; we went to the great mountain-pass between the lakes Ogwen and Idwal, where the Holyhead road runs, about half way between Bangor and Capel Curig. "Great are the works of the Lord, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein;" and none are greater than those parts of His creation which combine lofty mountains and large bodies of water. These objects excite our wonder, and raise our minds. to the Author of these mighty works; for "He that dwelleth on high is mightier.' But these objects not only excite our wonder and admiration; they also teach us humility-for, when we look at these, and then think of their Maker, we naturally exclaim, "Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him." For, "Behold, before Him all nations are as nothing;" the nations are as a drop of a bucket, are counted as the small dust of the balance; behold He taketh up the isles as a very little thing." For, "who" like Him "hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance.” With these reflections on our minds, we should have been much disappointed, had we met with any circumstance which might have damped our delight; especially had such a circumstance arisen from man, God's last and greatest work: but we were far from suffering any loss of satisfaction from this quarter. As you enter the pass to Llyn Idwal, (the lake Idwal) close by the road side there is a neat white cottage: here we left our provision, desiring the poor woman who lived there, to boil us some potatoes of her own, before our return, and to make ready for us, we proceeded, and, after a long walk through a rough but magnificent scene to the foot of the lake and back again, we were well disposed to sit down, and to enjoy the good things which were provided for us. After we had done, we packed up our table-cloth, knives, forks, &c. and prepared to return home, leaving our scraps of cold meat for the good woman of the house. Upon our departing, however, we took the poor woman aside, and offered her a shilling each for her potatoes, and for the attention and trouble which she had bestowed upon us; she, however, refused to take anything, saying that she was amply repaid by the meat we had left for the potatoes we had eaten; she was very grateful to us for what we had left her, and that we were heartily welcome to all her attention and trouble. This is but a trifling circumstance, and perhaps may be thought unworthy of being recorded; and yet, as we fear such instances of disinterestedness are not very common, one such record of the "simple COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 89 Sure we 1838.] annals of the poor" may not be without effect. are, that they who act thus, are more likely to prosper, even in this world, than they who, with greedy hearts and grasping hands, neither feel for, nor bestir themselves to promote any one's comfort and interest but their own ;people, who in the spirit of Nabal would say, "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? shall I take my bread and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men whom I know not whence they be?" Surely they who do as this poor woman did, will be recompenced by the satisfaction arising from their own minds; they will be repaid by the hand of man, through some of those unseen and indirect methods which appear to be the effect of chance, but which, in reality, flow from those second causes which are disposed by the hand of God Himself, whose blessing alone maketh rich. God loveth a cheerful giver, who gives hoping to receive nothing again; who, though he may appear to cast his bread upon the waters, yet after many days he shall find it again. We cannot forget the remark of the wise man: "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he who watereth shall be watered also himself." We must not forget to say that the poor woman's dog, as if he had been a kindred spirit, received us courteously when we came to the house, attended us all the way to the lake and back again, occasionally stopping as he tripped before, wagging his tail, and looking round as if inviting us to come forward; in short, doing the honours and conducting us like any other guide. Your obedient servants, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. A SECOND question our friends used to ask the young people who came to consult them, was this: "What is it in the person of whom you speak, that makes you think you should love him (or her) better than all the world beside?" You ought to be able to do this; for it is a very foolish action either to marry without love, or to love without reason. Is it beauty? Beauty is only skin deep, and sometimes covers a heart deformed by vice and ill temper. Beauty is a poor thing, unless it accompanies something far better than itself, and that will long outlive it. To marry only for beauty, would be like buying a house for the nosegays in the windows. "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised," and chosen, too, by the wise man who seeks a helpmate. Would you marry for money? "In seeking after a comfortable yoke-fellow, good conditions are more to be sought for than a great dowry." "Better have a fortune in a wife, than a fortune with a wife." Is it for genteel attractive manners and polite accomplishments? Don't be imposed upon: "all is not gold that glitters." Beauty, and property, and pleasing manners, and polite accomplishments, are all very good make-weights in a bargain, but would make a wretchedly bad bargain of themselves. In marrying, you want not only what will please you when all goes smoothly, but you want what will afford real comfort and support in the time of adversity. Then they would ask, "How does the party behave in present relations? Is he (or she) remarked as a dutiful, affectionate, attentive child; a kind brother or sister? for never yet was it found that the disobedient, rebellious son, or the pert, undutiful daughter, was fitted to make an affectionate, faithful, valuable, husband or wife." Then again, "Is the intended party of age, temper, and habits suitable to your own?" for people may be very good in themselves, who are not suitable to each other? and two people who have been used to different ways of living, must have an uncommon share of good temper and forbearance, if ever they make each other happy in the married life. Remember, "marriage, with peace and piety, is this life's paradise; with strife and disagreement it is this life's torment." "Is the person humble, industrious, and contented? If not, your present lot will not satisfy her; still less will she be willing to descend to a lower state, if such should be the appointment of Providence. And then, how i. it as to the one thing needful? Whatever you do, do not let this be overlooked. Without true religion you lose the best sweetness and relish of prosperity, and you have no provision whatever 1838.] COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 91 for meeting trials and afflictions. Besides, if you could live together a century in the tenderest affection, and the most unmingled comfort, what a dreadful thing to think of death coming and separating you for ever! Be sure, then, you remember the Scripture rule, only in the Lord;' and expect not the blessing of God if you break that rule. Ask the blessing of God on all your engagements.' "A prudent wife is of the Lord!" "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." When all these matters are satisfactorily settled, and your choice fixed, be steady and faithful. Never act with levity, or say or do anything that would give each other pain. Be very prudent and circumspect in your intercourse with each other. In this respect, your future comfort and confidence are at stake, as well as your fair character in the world. Let nothing that occurs now, furnish matter for reproach or regret at any future time. To young married people our friends would say,-Let your conduct be such as to render easy the duties of the other party. A wife is commanded to reverence her husband. Let his conduct be wise and holy, and then it will command reverence. Husbands, love your wives ;' then wives should be truly amiable. A man can hardly love a vixen or a slattern. If a wife wishes to keep her husband at home, she must make home comfortable to him: in order to this, she must be, as the Apostle says, 'discreet, chaste, a keeper at home.' A giddy, gadding wife is sure to make a dissatisfied, if not a profligate husband. Seek to promote each other's comforts, so will you best secure your own. Let there be no secrets, and no separate interests. Do nothing that requires concealment. Many a partner of a generous and open disposition, has been driven to practise concealment by the extravagance or unkindness of the associate. To husbands they said, "Treat your wife always with respect. It will procure respect for you, not only from her, but from all who observe it. Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest." |