“Gold,” says Deluzy, “does not satisfy love; it must be paid back in its own coin.”  “The platform of the altar of love,” says Jane Porter, with great accuracy of metaphor, “is constructed of virtue, beauty, and affection; such is the pyre, such the offering; but the ethereal spark must come from heaven that lights the sacrifice.”  “This passion is,” says Dr. South, “the great instrument and engine of nature, the bond and cement of society, the spring and spirit of the universe.  It is the whole man wrapped up into one desire, all the power, vigor, and faculties of the soul

ABRIDGED INTO ONE INCLINATION.”

“Samson was so tempted,” says Shakspeare, “and he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so seduced; and he had a very good wit.”  There has always been one time in a man’s life when he felt poets should sing only of this one act in the drama of life.  Here is the idea—­the same idea we have all had, only dressed in better raiment, for Alexander Smith took great pride in the children of his brain:  “Methinks all poets should be gentle, fair, and ever young, and ever beautiful; I would have all poets to be like to this—­gold-haired and rosy-lipped, to sing of love.”  Finally, said the Great Napoleon:  “Love is the occupation of the idle man, the amusement of the busy one, and

THE SHIPWRECK OF A SOVEREIGN.”

Thus, if we will turn through the pages of our books, we will see everywhere the marks of love upon men’s minds.  It is a rude bath, which when we have grown more accustomed to the waters, delights and satisfies, and in our sleep our dreams are beautiful.  It is natural, and therefore need not be called laudable—­though if it were not a part of our development, schools of love would be a necessity, to teach men how to love without scandal in the sight of God.

THE FIRST ATTACK OF LOVE IS RIDICULOUS

to those not acting one of the two parts, yet it is well to remember our own experience.  “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” says the Bible; “many waters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it.”  Neither can the selfish aim nor the cruel jest of the parent whom it discommodes do aught but fan the flame if God and not folly have truly lighted it.  The danger of handling carelessly the fire of the heart is one of the gravest which confront the guardians of younger lives.  The switch is fixed; the train is approaching; if you attempt to turn the train you must not only know where it is going after it shall be turned, but you must have the skill to see whether there yet remains time to make the movement with success.  A wreck by a switchman is a fearful thing!

COURTSHIP

     “Their Love was like the lava-flood
     That burns in AEtna’s breast of flame.”