"Just as a mother, with sweet, pious face, Yearns toward her little children from her seat, Gives one a kiss, another an embrace, Takes this upon her knees, that on her feet; And while from actions, looks, complaints, pretences, She learns their feelings and their various will, To this a look, to that a word, dispenses, And, whether stern or smiling, loves them still;-- So Providence for us, high, infinite, Makes our necessities its watchful task, Hearkens to all our prayers, helps all our wants, And e'en if it denies what seems our right, Either denies because 'twould have us ask, Or seems but to deny, or in denying grants." [1] Sir Walter Scott well says-- "And if there be on Earth a tear From passion's dross [2] refined and clear, 'Tis that which pious fathers shed Upon a duteous daughter's head." Epaminondas is said to have given as his main reason for rejoicing at the victory of Leuctra, that it would give so much pleasure to his father and mother. Nor must the love of animals be altogether omitted. It is impossible not to sympathize with the Savage when he believes in their immortality, and thinks that after death "Admitted to that equal sky His faithful dog shall bear him company." [3] In the _Mahabharata_, the great Indian Epic, when the family of Pandavas, the heroes, at length reach the gates of heaven, they are welcomed themselves, but are told that their dog cannot come in. Having pleaded in vain, they turn to depart, as they say they can never leave their faithful companion. Then at the last moment the Angel at the door relents, and their Dog is allowed to enter with them. We may hope the time will come when we shall learn "Never to blend our pleasures or our pride, With sorrow of the meanest thing that feels." [4] But at the present moment I am speaking rather of the love which leads to marriage. Such love is the music of life, nay, "there is music in the beauty, and the silver note of love, far sweeter than the sound of any instrument." [5] The Symposium of Plato contains an interesting and amusing disquisition on Love. "Love," Phaedrus is made to say, "will make men dare to die for their beloved--love alone: and women as well as men. Of this, Alcestis, the daughter of Pelias, is a monument to all Hellas; for she was willing to lay down her life on behalf of her husband, when no one else would, although he had a father and mother; but the tenderness of her love so far exceeded theirs, that she made them seem to be strangers in blood to their own son, and in name only related to him; and so noble did this action of hers appear to the gods, as well as to men, that among the many who have done virtuously she is one of the very few to whom they have granted the privilege of returning to earth, in admiration of her virtue; such exceeding honor is paid by them to the devotion and virtue of love." Agathon is even more eloquent--