and girls, but of young, though measurably mature, men and women, as insisted upon in the preceding section. There are many reasons, both physical and moral, why marriage should not be unnecessarily delayed beyond the period of full bodily development. Celibacy is in direct opposition to a law of our nature. With the exceptions noted in a previous chapter, it is the duty as well as the privilege of men and women to marry, and a failure to do so is an act of disobedience which can not go unpunished. "But suppose circumstances beyond one's control absolutely prevent any matrimonial union? Take the case of the maiden, for instance, whom "nobody comes to woo?" This may change the moral aspects of the case, but in relation to the natural laws it remains the same. Fire will burn you all the same, no matter how innocently you fall into it. The health almost invariably suffers from the repression of the natural activity of any of the bodily functions; and longcontinued restraint in the direction of legitimate exercise is very liable to result in hurtful, if not sinful, abuses of the repressed functions. Young men who remain unmarried, especially in cities, are exposed to many temptations which they have not always the moral strength to resist, and from which a loving wife and a happy home would save them. Marriage is the best safeguard of virtue in such cases, and should not be unnecessarily delayed. The plea of want of pecuniary means is not always a good one. The young man who is able to indulge in the expensive habits from which few single men are free, can generally provide in an economical but comfortable way for a family. It often costs less to support two than to pander to the artificial wants of one. Another important reason for early marriage is the fact, that in youth the parties more readily assimilate to each other, and harmonious relations are more likely to be maintained. Later in life, the character of each becomes fixed, and habits formed that are difficult to change, and may lead to unpleasant differences, if not to permanent estrangement. It should be considered, too, that, where marriage takes place early in life, the chances that the parents will live to see their children grown up and settled in life are much greater than when it is delayed. In the latter case, they are often deprived of the guardianship and protection of those whom nature has assigned to them as teachers, guides, and counselors at a time when their kind offices are most needed. They may fall into good hands or into bad, but in no case can the place of a parent be truly filled by any other person. In short, every argument that can be consistently urged in favor of marrying at all, may be used to enforce early marriages, as we have defined and limited the term. DIFFERENCE IN AGE. Nature has indicated with sufficient clearness that there should be a slight difference in age between the male and the female on assuming the marriage relation. As the girl arrives at womanhood two or three years earlier than the boy reaches manhood, we may infer that the husband should be at least as many years older than the wife. Any rule, however, that we might lay down, in regard to difference in age, must be subject to many exceptions, mainly on account of individual differences in the time of reaching maturity. One person may be really older, so far as growth, development, and maturity of body and mind are concerned, at eighteen years of age than another at twenty-five. We consider from four to six years a very good average difference, where the parties are young; but if both be somewhat advanced in years, a greater difference may be allowable-say, from ten to fifteen years; but not fifty! Each age has its peculiar tastes, pursuits, aspirations, and attractions, its own modes of thinking and acting, and its own hopes and pleasures, with which those widely separated from it can not fully sympathize, and serious disagreements are apt to result in married life from this cause. Some one has said, "that when two young persons get married to each other, it is God's work; when an old man marries a young woman, it is man's work; but when a young man marries an old woman, it is the devil's work." It is true that Yet enough our hearts to bind, love, In life's brightest cup we find, love; We twain sported on the heather, That we should grow old together." IV. Motives for Marrying. Marriage is a union of love between one man and one woman, devoting themselves in strictest intimacy and with exclusive fidelity to perpetual mutual improvement. The union should be formed with a view to the whole life of man, both that which now is and that which is to come. Love is an eternal principle; hence all merely temporary motives are wrong.-Follen. S WHY THEY MARRIED. OME close observer of our social relations, having looked about among his married female acquaintancés, ventures to give the following list, with an attempt to indicate the real reasons which influence too many to marry. We hope and believe that he is not correct in the proportion he assigns to the right motive for marrying, but we are sure that all the other motives he mentions are more or less influential. He says: 1. Marrying for a Home.-Number One has married for a home. She got tired of working in a factory, or teaching school, or making dresses, and she thought married life was nothing on earth but moonlight walks, buggy-rides, new bonnets, and nothing to do! Well, she has got her home; whether or no she is tired of the accompanying incumbrances this deponent saith not, inasmuch as this deponent doth not positively know. 2. Consulting Family Interests.-Number Two married. because she had seven younger sisters, and a papa with a narrow income. She "consulted the interests of her family." Perhaps she would better have consulted her own interest by taking in light washing, or going out by the day to work. 3. She Liked the Sound of Mrs.-Number Three married because Mrs. sounded so much better than Miss. She was twenty-nine years and eleven months old, and another month would have transmuted her into a regular old maid. Think how awful that would have been! 4. Wanted Somebody to Pay her Bills.-Number Four married because she wanted somebody to pay her bills. Her husband married for precisely the same reason, so they are both of them repenting at leisure. 5. Not Going to be Left Behind.-Number Five married because Fanny White had a nice new husband, and she wasn't going to be left behind! Pity if she could'nt get married as well as other folks! 6. Marrying for Money.-Number Six married because she was poor, and wanted riches. Poor child! she never counted on all the other things that were inseparable from those coveted riches. 7. She Liked to Travel.-Number Seven married because she thought she should like to travel! But Mr. Number Seven changed his mind afterward, and all the traveling she has done has been between the well and the back-kitchen door. 8. Marrying out of Spite.-Number Eight married out of spite, because her first love had taken unto himself a second love! This little piece of retaliation might have done her good at the time, but, in the long run, Number Eight found it did not pay. 9. Wanted Sympathy.-Number Nine married because she had read novels and "wanted sympathy." Sympathy is a fine thing, but it cools down at a rapid rate if the domestic kettle is not kept boiling, and the domestic turkey is underdone. Novels and housekeeping don't run well together in harness, to use a sporting phrase, and Number Nine's supply of sympathy didn't hold out very long! 10. Marrying for Love.-Number Ten married because she loved her husband with all her heart and with all her soul! And she loves him still, and will probably always continue to love him, and is the happiest wife in the world—so she says ! Here we have the right motive at last-a motive which, |