of the times, than a score of those papers that are wholly devoted to the upbuilding of a particular party. Those young men, therefore, who are more deeply interested in the welfare of the whole country, than in the welfare of political parties and individual aspirants, will do well to become patrons of these neutral periodicals.

CHAPTER Xи.

MARRIAGE.

Young men should allow matrimony, to be a frequent subject of serious reflection.* I repeat, serious reflection. Although young people are generally in the habit of viewing marriage as a light, pleasant, laughable matter, of no great moment, yet it is a subject which deeply involves their enjoyment, their peace and prosperity through life, and therefore it is one of weight and importance. Marriage is one of the vital institutions of civilized life. In whatever community it holds a high and sacred rank, it is a prolific source of the social virtues and enjoyments. But wherever its holy obligations are unknown or unheeded, man sinks to the level of the brute, in regard to every thing that is elevating and ennobling.

*I would refer the reader to the Fifth Lecture of "Combe's Moral Philosophy," for some useful remarks respecting marriage, which should be read and heeded by every youth who expects to enter the matrimonial state.

Marriage is a duty-made so by our Creator. In forming the man, he did not intend him to be a lone and solitary being. The sacred historian instructs us that the "Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." From the body of Adam, the woman was formed; and Deity uttered the authoritative requirement, "therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh." Here is a strict command to enter the marriage

state.

Matrimony is made a duty by nature. The human race are equally divided into the two sexes, male and female. They are evidently intended for each other's society. The woman, from her delicate constitution, stands in need of the aid, the protection and support of the sterner and more vigorous sex. And it is equally necessary that the man should be civilized, polished, and curbed in the outbreaking of his impetuous passions, under the influence of the purer mind and sweeter affections of woman. There is no way in which these mutual benefits can be so properly and so beneficially bestowed, as through the institution of marriage. The ties thus formed, call into activity, all the kindest and holiest affections of our natures—they bring out the bright virtues and excellencies of the human heart, and awaken to life, that love which sweetens the uneven journey of earthly existence.

Every young man should make it the settled resolution of his mind, to enter the matrimonial state. This should be one of the important ulterior objects, to which his earlier plans and exertions should tend. To take upon himself the marriage obligations, with proper views and in proper circumstances, should be the goal at which every honorable young man should endeavor early to arrive. And he should never consider himself as perfectly settled in life, and prepared to take his proper station in society, until he obtains this "help meet," this better half.

"The wish to marry, if prudently indulged, will lead to honest and persevering exertions to obtain a reasonable income--one which will be satisfactory to the object of your hopes, as well as to her friends. He who is determined on living a single life, very naturally contracts his endeavors to his own narrow personal wants, or else squanders freely, in the belief that he can always procure enough to support himself. Indeed it can not have escaped even the careless observer, that in proportion as an individual relinquishes the idea of matrimony, just in the same proportion do his mind and feelings contract. On the contrary, that hope which aims at a beloved partner—a family—a fireside--will lead its possessor to activity in all his conduct. It will elicit his talents, and urge them to their full energy, and probably call in the aid of economy; a quality so indispensable to every condition of life. The sin

gle consideration, 'What would she think, were she now to see me V called up by the intrusion of a favorite image—how often has it stimulated a noble mind and heart to deeds which otherwise had never been performed !"* "The first blessing," says Bishop Taylor, "God gave to man, was society; and that society was a marriage; and that marriage was confederate by God himself, and hallowed by a blessing. Celibacy, like the fly in the heart of an apple, sits alone, and is confined, and dies in singularity. But marriage, like the useful bee, builds a house, and gathers sweetness from every flower, and unites into societies and republics, and sends out colonies, and feeds the world with delicacies, and keeps order, and exercises many virtues, and promotes the interest of mankind, and is that state of good things to which, God hath designed the present constitution of the world."

Some young men deem it exceedingly wise to make up their minds not to marry at all. But this determination is as ungenerous and dishonorable, as it is unnatural and unreasonable. And those who form it, are treasuring up to themselves evils and sorrows. The disadvantages of a single life are not so sensibly experienced while youth and health continue. But when old age creeps on and the bachelor becomes wearied with the amusements of youth, and is necessitated to seek for other sources of enjoyment, then he feels the * Young Man's Guide.