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manner       of  presents;     such    as  pocket…books;       pencil…cases;      pen…wipers; 

watch…      papers;    pin…cushions;       sleeve…buckles;      worked…slippers;        watch… 

guards; and even a   nutmeg…grater: the latter article being presented by  a 

very   chubby   and   very   little   boy;   who   exhibits   it   in   great   triumph   as   an 

extraordinary       variety。    The    old   couple's     emotion      at  these    tokens    of 

remembrance          occasions     quite    a  pathetic     scene;    of  which     the   chief 

ingredients      are   a  vast   quantity    of  kissing    and    hugging;     and   repeated 

wipings of small eyes and noses with small square pocket…handkerchiefs; 

which   don't   come   at   all   easily   out   of   small   pockets。   Even   the   peevish 

bachelor is moved; and he says; as he presents the old gentleman with a 

queer   sort   of   antique   ring   from   his   own   finger;   that   he'll   be   de'ed   if   he 

doesn't think he looks younger than he did ten years ago。 

     But the great time is after dinner; when the dessert and wine are on the 

table;   which   is   pushed   back   to   make   plenty   of   room;   and   they   are   all 

gathered in a large circle round the fire; for it is then … the glasses being 

filled;    and    everybody       ready    to   drink    the   toast    …  that   two    great… 

grandchildren rush out at a given signal; and presently return; dragging in 

old Jane Adams leaning upon her crutched stick; and trembling with age 

and pleasure。 Who so popular as poor old Jane; nurse and story…teller in 

ordinary to two generations; and who so happy as she; striving to bend her 

stiff limbs into a curtsey; while tears of pleasure steal down her withered 

cheeks! 



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     The old couple sit side by side; and the old time seems like yesterday 

indeed。 Looking back upon the path they have travelled; its dust and ashes 

disappear; the flowers that withered long ago; show brightly again upon its 

borders; and they grow young once more in the youth of those about them。 



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                             CONCLUSION 



     We have taken for the subjects of the foregoing moral essays; twelve 

samples of married couples; carefully selected from a large stock on hand; 

open to the inspection of all comers。 These samples are intended for the 

benefit of the rising generation of both sexes; and; for their more easy and 

pleasant   information;   have   been   separately   ticketed   and   labelled   in   the 

manner they have seen。 

     We have purposely excluded from consideration the couple in which 

the lady reigns paramount and supreme; holding such cases to be of a very 

unnatural kind;  and   like hideous   births   and other   monstrous   deformities; 

only to be discreetly and sparingly exhibited。 

     And here   our self…imposed   task   would   have   ended;  but   that   to   those 

young ladies and gentlemen who are yet revolving singly round the church; 

awaiting   the   advent   of   that   time   when   the   mysterious   laws   of   attraction 

shall draw them towards it in couples; we are desirous of addressing a few 

last words。 

     Before marriage and afterwards; let them learn to centre all their hopes 

of   real   and   lasting   happiness   in   their   own   fireside;   let   them   cherish   the 

faith   that   in   home;   and   all   the   English   virtues   which   the   love   of   home 

engenders; lies the only true source of domestic felicity; let them believe 

that round the household gods; contentment and tranquillity cluster in their 

gentlest     and   most    graceful    forms;    and   that   many    weary     hunters    of 

happiness   through   the   noisy   world;   have   learnt   this   truth   too   late;   and 

found a cheerful spirit and a quiet mind only at home at last。 

     How much may depend on the education of daughters and the conduct 

of mothers; how much of the brightest part of our old national character 

may be perpetuated by their wisdom or frittered away by their folly … how 

much of it may have been lost already; and how much more in danger of 

vanishing every day … are questions too weighty for discussion here; but 

well    deserving     a  little  serious   consideration      from    all  young    couples 

nevertheless。 

     To   that   one   young   couple   on   whose   bright   destiny   the   thoughts   of 



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nations are fixed; may the youth of England look; and not in vain; for an 

example。 From that one young couple; blessed and favoured as they are; 

may they learn that even the glare and glitter of a court; the splendour of a 

palace;    and   the  pomp     and   glory   of  a  throne;   yield  in  their  power    of 

conferring happiness; to domestic worth and virtue。 From that one young 

couple     may    they   learn  that   the  crown    of  a  great   empire;    costly   and 

jewelled though it be; gives place in the estimation of a Queen to the plain 

gold ring that links her woman's nature to that of tens of thousands of her 

humble   subjects;   and   guards   in   her   woman's   heart   one   secret   store   of 

tenderness; whose proudest boast shall be that it knows no Royalty save 

Nature's own; and no pride of birth but being the child of heaven! 

     So shall the highest young couple in the land for once hear the truth; 

when men throw up their caps; and cry with loving shouts … 

       GOD BLESS THEM。 



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