"I am also sure that you will not consider unacceptable the
prayer I am about to transcribe in this my letter. It was written
by my dear husband, some time after the exceeding goodness of God
made us one; and we feel much comfort and encouragement in
repeating it each morn and eve, ere the cares and turmoils of the
day are come, or when they have departed. May it have a like
influence on you, my sweet friend! May your destiny be as mine!
"'O Lord, divine uniter of true hearts! Grant to thy servants
an increase of that blessed gift of grace which is wrought into
the soul by thy regenerating Spirit, that so the whole creature
may be resigned unto thy will, human love be subservient to
that which is heavenly, and all its thoughts, hopes, and
actions be directed to thy glory, with whom is its source, and
from whom its blessing cometh: Two pray unto thee as one, one
in heart, one in interest, one for time, one for eternity. So
may it ever be, O Lord! our Maker and our guide, our protector
and our friend. We bless and thank thee for the comfort we have
found in each other, for the worldly prosperity to which
virtue, trustfulness, and faith in thy care have conducted us;
for the mutual esteem, confidence, and affection that sway and
direct our frail natures, but, above all, for the sure and
certain knowledge that when our mortal shall have put on
immortality, we shall be one--undivided, inseparable, and
eternal.' "'Tis brief, Constantia, but long supplications too often lose in
spirit that which the heart cannot make up in words. Prayer
should be the concentrated essence of Humility, perfumed by Hope,
and elevated by Faith; but you know all this as well as I. I
would not presume to instruct, or give you advice upon any point,
save this most blessed or most miserable one (to a mind like
yours it can have no medium)--marriage! Many young females are
beguiled by evil counsel, and thus commence in a careless or
obstinate course, which leads them into the thorny path of
discontent, and consequent wretchedness. And, first of all, do
not fancy that petty tyrannies become a bride. It is the habit of
the bridegroom to yield to such like; but, trust me, he loves you
not the better for weak fantasies, unless he be a fool; and I pen
no lines for fools, or fools' mates. I have no sympathy with a
woman weak or wicked enough to wed a fool. In the honeymoon,
then, study your husband's temper; for the best of men--and women
too--carry (it may be unconsciously) a mask during the days of
courtship, which, if not taken off, wears off, and you must
strive to know him as he really is; remembering that though
lovers may be angels, husbands are only mortals. Looking within
at the imperfection of our own nature, we learn to make allowance
for the faults they may possess.