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by his wife。
Trial and suffering are the tests of married life。 They bring out
the real character； and often tend to produce the closest union。
They may even be the spring of the purest happiness。
Uninterrupted joy； like uninterrupted success； is not good for
either man or woman。 When Heine's wife died； he began to reflect
upon the loss he had sustained。 They had both known poverty； and
struggled through it hand…in…hand； and it was his greatest sorrow
that she was taken from him at the moment when fortune was
beginning to smile upon him； but too late for her to share in his
prosperity。 〃Alas I〃 said he； 〃amongst my griefs must I reckon
even her lovethe strongest； truest； that ever inspired the
heart of womanwhich made me the happiest of mortals； and yet
was to me a fountain of a thousand distresses； inquietudes； and
cares？ To entire cheerfulness； perhaps； she never attained； but
for what unspeakable sweetness； what exalted； enrapturing joys； is
not love indebted to sorrow！ Amidst growing anxieties； with the
torture of anguish in my heart； I have been made； even by the loss
which caused me this anguish and these anxieties； inexpressibly
happy！ When tears flowed over our cheeks； did not a nameless；
seldom…felt delight stream through my breast； oppressed equally
by joy and sorrow！〃
There is a degree of sentiment in German love which seems strange
to English readers；such as we find depicted in the lives of
Novalis； Jung Stilling； Fichte； Jean Paul； and others that might
be named。 The German betrothal is a ceremony of almost equal
importance to the marriage itself； and in that state the
sentiments are allowed free play； whilst English lovers are
restrained； shy； and as if ashamed of their feelings。 Take； for
instance； the case of Herder； whom his future wife first saw in
the pulpit。 〃I heard；〃 she says； 〃the voice of an angel； and
soul's words such as I had never heard before。 In the afternoon I
saw him； and stammered out my thanks to him； from this time forth
our souls were one。〃 They were betrothed long before their means
would permit them to marry； but at length they were united。 〃We
were married；〃 says Caroline； the wife； 〃by the rose…light of a
beautiful evening。 We were one heart； one soul。〃 Herder was
equally ecstatic in his language。 〃I have a wife；〃 he wrote
to Jacobi； 〃that is the tree； the consolation； and the happiness
of my life。 Even in flying transient thoughts （which often
surprise us）； we are one！〃
Take； again； the case of Fichte； in whose history his courtship
and marriage form a beautiful episode。 He was a poor German
student； living with a family at Zurich in the capacity of tutor；
when he first made the acquaintance of Johanna Maria Hahn； a niece
of Klopstock。 Her position in life was higher than that of
Fichte； nevertheless； she regarded him with sincere admiration。
When Fichte was about to leave Zurich； his troth plighted to her；
she； knowing him to be very poor； offered him a gift of money
before setting out。 He was inexpressibly hurt by the offer； and；
at first； even doubted whether she could really love him； but； on
second thoughts； he wrote to her； expressing his deep thanks； but；
at the same time； the impossibility of his accepting such a gift
from her。 He succeeded in reaching his destination； though
entirely destitute of means。 After a long and hard struggle with
the world； extending over many years； Fichte was at length earning
money enough to enable him to marry。 In one of his charming
letters to his betrothed he said：〃And so； dearest； I solemnly
devote myself to thee； and thank thee that thou hast thought me
not unworthy to be thy companion on the journey of life。。。。 There
is no land of happiness here belowI know it nowbut a land of
toil； where every joy but strengthens us for greater labour。
Hand…in…hand we shall traverse it； and encourage and strengthen
each other； until our spiritsoh； may it be together！shall
rise to the eternal fountain of all peace。〃
The married life of Fichte was very happy。 His wife proved a true
and highminded helpmate。 During the War of Liberation she was
assiduous in her attention to the wounded in the hospitals； where
she caught a malignant fever； which nearly carried her off。
Fichte himself caught the same disease； and was for a time
completely prostrated； but he lived for a few more years and died
at the early age of fifty…two； consumed by his own fire。
What a contrast does the courtship and married life of the blunt
and practical William Cobbett present to the aesthetical and
sentimental love of these highly refined Germans！ Not less
honest； not less true； but； as some would think； comparatively
coarse and vulgar。 When he first set eyes upon the girl that was
afterwards to become his wife； she was only thirteen years old；
and he was twenty…onea sergeant…major in a foot regiment
stationed at St。 John's in New Brunswick。 He was passing the
door of her father's house one day in winter； and saw the girl
out in the snow； scrubbing a washing…tub。 He said at once to
himself； 〃That's the girl for me。〃 He made her acquaintance；
and resolved that she should be his wife so soon as he could
get discharged from the army。
On the eve of the girl's return to Woolwich with her father； who
was a sergeant…major in the artillery； Cobbett sent her a hundred
and fifty guineas which he had saved； in order that she might be
able to live without hard work until his return to England。 The
girl departed； taking with her the money； and five years later
Cobbett obtained his discharge。 On reaching London； he made haste
to call upon the sergeant…major's daughter。 〃I found；〃 he says；
〃my little girl a servant…of…all…work （and hard work it was）； at
five pounds a year； in the house of a Captain Brisac； and； without
hardly saying a word about the matter； she put into my hands the
whole of my hundred and fifty guineas； unbroken。〃 Admiration of
her conduct was now added to love of her person； and Cobbett
shortly after married the girl； who proved an excellent wife。 He
was； indeed； never tired of speaking her praises； and it was his
pride to attribute to her all the comfort and much of the success
of his after…life。
Though Cobbett was regarded by many in his lifetime as a coarse；
hard； practical man； full of prejudices； there was yet a strong
undercurrent of poetry in his nature； and； while he declaimed
against sentiment； there were few men more thoroughly imbued with
sentiment of the best kind。 He had the tenderest regard for the
character of woman。 He respected her purity and her virtue； and
in his 'Advice to Young Men；' he has painted the true womanly
womanthe helpful； cheerful； affectionate wifewith a
vividness and brightness； and； at the same time； a force of good
sense； that has never been surpassed by any English writer。
Cobbett was anything but refined； in the conventional sense of the
word； but he was pur