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L-[ALL RIGHTS UESERVED. J

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L- [ALL RIGHTS UESERVED. J TIMOTHY SLICK IN SEARCH OF A WIFE, Illustrating the difficulties of a Penarth gentleman in his earnest quest for a. partner in bis joys and sorrows- ARTICLE IX.-I SPEND THE HONEYMOON. I am growing inquisitive. I "want to know the mean- ing of the word "Honeymoon. I have some dim recollection that in my boyhood days I had some queer thoughts about it. vYbat they were I don't know exactly. I took down the dictionary just now in order to get a definition of it. This is what I read Honey- moon The first month after marriage." That is not very illuminating It makes confusion worse con- founded. Let me try again. I will divide it into two-honey and moon. What is honey ? A very sweet substance, Some people say it is very sickly-a matter of taste, I presume. What is the moon ? A planet reflecting borrowed rays from the sun; an unseen object at first, then appearing in the form of crescent as if it were only a streak of light; a gradual growth for 14 days, when it reaches the fulness of brightness, after which it begins to wane until, at the expiration of another fort- Eight, the light has vanished and darkness reigns supreme. Now, let us again put the two together, and ob- serve the result. The honeymoon will thus appear to mean a sweet but sickly something which reaches its. Sweetest point about a fortnight after marriage, after which the sweetness begins to wane until, at the end of a month, all the honey has bees extracted and there remains nothing but the memory of it without the s (veetness. Humph this a very unsatisfactory conclusion, especially when we take into account that it is bor- rowed glory. I do not know that I care very much for the result of the analysis. I should like it to have meant something more permanent than this- How- ever, I fear there is a good deal of truth in what has been s--tid, for this is about the length of some people's devotion and attention afterwards. Marriage was but to them the means of pandering to their baser natures, and that accomplished, they soon got tired of their bargain. But where there is true love between soul and soul and not mere animalism, this will never be the case. Instead of waning, there will be a continual growth of the affection, and as the days go by one will enter more completely into the life of the other. At any rate these are my sentiments, and I give them for what they are worth. We had made up our minds to spend our honey- moon in the lake district- Asa "rule, newly-married people, while the billing and cooing season is at its height, generally go to the seaside but as we should be living at Penarth for the future, we thought it would be a greater change for us to go there instead. We started accordingly in the afternoon of the day after the wedding, and arriving at Cardiff, booked for Chester, where we resolved to break the journey until the following day- We had a very pleasant ride until the darkness Crept around us. I could see many smiles on the faces of the several passengers who travelled with us. It was eosy, I suppose, for them to see that Ave were only just beginning to enjoy love's sweet dream together-that we but recently entered the garden of roses, and were revelling in the fragrance of the flowers. Sometimes we had the carriage to ourselves, and then I took delight in putting my arm around my 1:1 z;1 little wife, while I pointed out to her in the tenderest tones the varied beauties of the natural world through which we were travelling. There was the beatiful scenery around Abergavenny, the richly laden fruit trees of Hereford, the fields all alive with men and women all busy gathering in the golden harvest. By and by we passed through more beautiful scenery, which opened out into the picturesque vale of Llangollen, As the harvest moon rose we could see the people in the fields flitting about here and there like ghostly shadows. After a while my darling laid her little head to rest on my breast, and soon fell asleep. How glad I was to have her lying there, and as sh3 slept I stroked her hair and kissed her fore- bead again and again. I was left to my own reflec- tions, when suddenly I heard her whisper £ i Tim I looked down, but I saw only a sweet smile playing on her features. In her dreams I could see she was thinking of me. We got to Chester about half-past eight o'clock, and were met by one of Julia's aunts, at whose house we were going to stay until the following day. Alter spending the nxt morning looking at some of the ancient buildings of the city and a sail upon the Dee, we resumed our journey. Now we passed along through very beautiful scenery, the train for some time travelling close by the sea. We reached our destination about six o'clock, and got into one of the conveyances outside the station. As we were being bowbd along we saw that the fright blue sky was paling off into evening tints, which shed rainbow-like hues over mountains, lake' and vale. We got down outside the Waterhead Hotel," Ambleside, and having later on secured apartments somewhere midway between the town and the lake, we were served with supper by the landlady, after which we were only too glad to get to bed. We felt in splendid form next morning, so, after a good breakfast, and inquiries as to the most interest- ing spots we could visit, we made our way to what proved to be one the prettiest walks in the district. It is a ramble by the Bothay to Rydal, a distance of some four or five miles in all. We saw to the right of us as we went along the house where Dr. Arnold lived, called 11 Fox How." We passed by many picturesque villas. The Rothay runs sparkling by the side of the road, dashing over rough stones that impede its pro- gress, and thus forming numberless small waterfalls. Crossing Pelter Bridge, we went up so far as the Rydal Falls, which were well worth seeing. There we tarried awhile amid the beauties of Nature. Everything accorded with our own feelings, and we spent a very happy hour or two there by our own sweet selves. Two is sufficient company at such times. After a little lunch we returned, catching a lovely view of Lake Windermere and the RotLay Valley on the way, and reaching home after a most enjoyable walk. Another day we made an excursion to Grange-over- Sands. We went by steamer to Lakeside, and on netting there, a waggonette conveyed us to Grange. What a delightful ride it was!—the beautiful wood- lands. the flower-decked hedgerows, the little squirrel leaping from one overhanging bough to another the whole, indeed, was magnificent and enchanting. It seemed to us as if we could linger lor ever here amid this handiwork of Nature. However, we must perforce return at eventide. This we did by crossing the lake in a tiny little boat, and as we were being borne across the bosom of the placid waters we felt we could have remained there through the silent watches of the night. 131 The lake itself affords a day's real pleasure. One moraine we took a little boat ourselves, and rowed about wherever we pleased. We talked and chatted we passed by glimpses of pretty scenery we had an impromptu lunch that was made more appetising by the originality of our surroundings. On another day we went to Stock G( yd Force to see the waterfalls. I have seen nothing more beauti- ful—the sparkling waters dashing into silvery spray as they fall, the many charming nooks were we could sit and watch the falls while' we murmured loving wcrds to each other and caught the joyous light in each other's eyes-indeed, we were simply revelling the whole time in the luxuries of the natural world. We climbed the surrounding bills several times as a kind of constitution exercise. We had to lay hold in the shrubs and trees in order to drag ourselves up the higher heights above. Again and again we tumbled back into the gorse, but this only made us the more determined. At last we reached the highest point with the wind completely pumped right out of us. From this point of vantage we gazed around us with admiration at the lovely views which stretched themselves out before us as far as the eye could see. There were the golden purple coloured mountains rising one against the other, the lake which seemed to be almost at our feet, with here and there a sail dotted on its surface, looking like so many white wingerl birds, the pretty little town of Ambleside will) its pretty cottages peeping from deep green foli- age or woodv glen while in the dim distance we could catch a glimpse of the sea stretching for miles and miles, like a clear cut line ot white in the light 0: the autumnal sun. We sat down to rest awhile so as to give the scene full time to break in upon us in all its grandeur and glory. We opened our lunch baskets, and in a truly rural style, after a truly Bohemian fashion, made a most excellent repast on the heights above, our table being a huge boulder, our chairs large stones stained and polished after Nature's art, above us the ethereal vault of blue from which hung the lamp of day- while the crown, the perfection, the glory of the whole was the one who sat close by me radiant and smiling -I mean my little wife. Surely never mortal man bad spent or could spend a happier time than I amid such scenes and with such a. companion After a while we made our way down the mountain slopes, but again and again fell down like Jack and Jill of old. but we did not break our crowns. We I rolled over and over, performed sundry indescribable evolutions, and wondered when we reached the bottom whether we should have to gather ourselves up in fragments that nothing might be lost. Thus the days flew by until we were at last com- pelled to leave this charming spot. We called at Liverpool on the way home in order to visit an uncle of mine. We stayed there a few days looking at the various places cf interest- We visited Sefton Park and the Botanical Gardens in Edge Ilill; we watched some of the outward bound American liners with their living freight starting on their journey across the briny; we crossed over the Mersey to Eastham to 1 have a look at the great Manchester Ship Canal, and aJso paid a visit to New Brighton, where we were be- seiged by an innumerable army of loud mouthed/ damsels who besought us to patronise some one of the many establishments which they severally repre- sented in Ham and Egg Terrace, but which we did not do, inasmuch as we were sufficiently regaled at a distance with the odiferous odour which plured itseU t [ 01t in mighty waves into the surrounding at- M--spbere. All this was quite in contrast with the scenery of the Lake District. They say a change is good. That being so, I can safely say that in coming from one to the other we certainly saw a great change. Nevcf- the less, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves during our short stay at Liverpool. Well, those happy glorious days all too rapidly passed by, and the time soon came when it was neces- sary we should return home. We had spent a most enjoyable time, and had learnt to appreciate one the worth of the other more and more. We saw into each other's natures more clearly; we laid bare the secrets of our hearts; we tried to form some idea as to how the future should be to us one continual day of harmony and peace. < During the whole time we were away there were no jariing notes, no clouds black and heavy threw their sombre shadows ever us no hasty words were spoken-they were to both of us weeks of unalloyed happiness and bliss. All the sweetness of that time lingers with me still. Love, mighty omnipotent love, sweetened the whole, and we drank to the full the golden cup that was held to our lips. We learnt, too, that the ideal of true wedlock was the fushion of soul into soul, where since the day they were joined into one the life of the man and the maid has been an ever closer interlacing of joys and sym- pathies and an ever growing identity of interests, duties, and tastes. Happy those who learn this lesson at the start. It will save them many sorrows and many trials and many troubles in the future that stretches before them. We reached home safe and sound gbout two or three days ago. After all, there was no place like home, However much our enjoyment had been, there is a restfulness here not obtainable elsewhere, My housekeeper had brightened up everything by the time we had arrived, so that when we got to the house in the evening we found a fire throwing out its genial warmth, the rooms lit up; and a nice supper waiting for us. Everything was as comfortable as it possibly could be. We both felt tired after our long journey, and were not long before we entered the Land of Nod. The next day I went back to the office again; Everything seemed strange to me after my long absence. But my fellow-clerks gave me a hearty welcome back, and congratulated me upon my im- provej appearance since I had takan to myself a wife. « Evidently, Slick," said one, it has done you good- You look fifty per cent. better than you did, old fellow." u I sav. boys," he said as he turned to the others, we shall have to go in for this kind of thing now, at which they all laughed. Anyhow, I thought it very complimentary to my little wife. I was glad, however, to get home that day. I had not been away from my sweetheart so long since we were married, DO I felt a little home siclc in the matter. She had been watching for my coming, and flew to open the door when she saw me in the distance. "Oh, Tim, darling, how long the day has been without you," she cried as she threw her arms around my neck. I have been wanting you so much." Then she gave me a good sounding kiss, which I returned in a most energetic fashion. 41 Did you want to see me very much, Tim ? Yes," I said tenderly the day has seemed end- less without you." I am now gettIng more resigned to this separation in the dOJ time. After all, duty must be attended to, My darling is also beginning to find plenty to do, so that the day passes more quickly even for her. She is sitting opposite to me at present, and is look- ing at me with her pretty eyes. Do you know what she has just asked me? c; Tim, dear ?" Yes, my love." Di you love me very much?" Yes, darling, very much." See, she rises and comes over to where I sit- "What now, darling?" I whisper. I hear her murmur in my hear:— "Do you think it is possible for you to love me any more than you do, my dear, dear husband ? This is my reply :— How shall I love you ? I dream all day, Dear, of a tenderer sweeter way Songs that I sing to you, words that I say, Prayers that are voiceless on lips that would pray; These may not tell of the love of my life; How shall I love you, my sweetheart, my wife ? How shall I love you ? Love is the bread Of Life to a woman—the white and the red Of all the world's roses—the light that is shed On all the world's pathways, till life shall be dead! The star in the storm, the strength in the strife; How shall I love you, my seetheart my wife ? Is there a burden your heart must bear ? I shall kneel lowly and lift it, dear! Is there a thorn in the crown that you wear ? Let it bide in my heart till a rose blossom there For grief or for glory for death or for life, So shall I love thee, my sweetheart, my wife!" "Are you satisfied, sweetheart ? "Yes, quite, dear," she whispers softly as her haad sinks low upon my shoulder. To be Continued•