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side； and even shaggy Fido and sleek Titty can toast their noses at the bars。
Let us heap the coals of kindness upon that fire。 Throw on your
pleasant words； your gentle pressures of the hand； your thoughtful and
unselfish deeds。 Fan it with good…humor； patience； and forbearance。 You
can let the wind blow and the rain fall unheeded then； for your hearth will
be warm and bright； and the faces round it will make sunshine in spite of
the clouds without。
I am afraid； dear Edwin and Angelina； you expect too much from love。
You think there is enough of your little hearts to feed this fierce； devouring
passion for all your long lives。 Ah； young folk！ don't rely too much upon
that unsteady flicker。 It will dwindle and dwindle as the months roll on；
and there is no replenishing the fuel。 You will watch it die out in anger and
disappointment。 To each it will seem that it is the other who is growing
colder。 Edwin sees with bitterness that Angelina no longer runs to the gate
to meet him； all smiles and blushes； and when he has a cough now she
doesn't begin to cry and； putting her arms round his neck； say that she
cannot live without him。 The most she will probably do is to suggest a
lozenge； and even that in a tone implying that it is the noise more than
anything else she is anxious to get rid of。
Poor little Angelina； too； sheds silent tears； for Edwin has given up
carrying her old handkerchief in the inside pocket of his waistcoat。
Both are astonished at the falling off in the other one； but neither sees
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
their own change。 If they did they would not suffer as they do。 They would
look for the cause in the right quarterin the littleness of poor human
naturejoin hands over their common failing； and start building their
house anew on a more earthly and enduring foundation。 But we are so
blind to our own shortcomings； so wide awake to those of others。
Everything that happens to us is always the other person's fault。 Angelina
would have gone on loving Edwin forever and ever and ever if only Edwin
had not grown so strange and different。 Edwin would have adored
Angelina through eternity if Angelina had only remained the same as
when he first adored her。
It is a cheerless hour for you both when the lamp of love has gone out
and the fire of affection is not yet lit； and you have to grope about in the
cold； raw dawn of life to kindle it。 God grant it catches light before the day
is too far spent。 Many sit shivering by the dead coals till night come。
But； there； of what use is it to preach？ Who that feels the rush of
young love through his veins can think it will ever flow feeble and slow！
To the boy of twenty it seems impossible that he will not love as wildly at
sixty as he does then。 He cannot call to mind any middle…aged or elderly
gentleman of his acquaintance who is known to exhibit symptoms of
frantic attachment； but that does not interfere in his belief in himself。 His
love will never fall； whoever else's may。 Nobody ever loved as he loves；
and so； of course； the rest of the world's experience can be no guide in his
case。 Alas！ alas！ ere thirty he has joined the ranks of the sneerers。 It is not
his fault。 Our passions； both the good and bad； cease with our blushes。 We
do not hate； nor grieve； nor joy； nor despair in our thirties like we did in
our teens。 Disappointment does not suggest suicide； and we quaff success
without intoxication。
We take all things in a minor key as we grow older。 There are few
majestic passages in the later acts of life's opera。 Ambition takes a less
ambitious aim。 Honor becomes more reasonable and conveniently adapts
itself to circumstances。 And lovelove dies。 〃Irreverence for the dreams of
youth〃 soon creeps like a killing frost upon our hearts。 The tender shoots
and the expanding flowers are nipped and withered； and of a vine that
yearned to stretch its tendrils round the world there is left but a sapless
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
stump。
My fair friends will deem all this rank heresy； I know。 So far from a
man's not loving after he has passed boyhood； it is not till there is a good
deal of gray in his hair that they think his protestations at all worthy of
attention。 Young ladies take their notions of our sex from the novels
written by their own； and compared with the monstrosities that
masquerade for men in the pages of that nightmare literature； Pythagoras'
plucked bird and Frankenstein's demon were fair average specimens of
humanity。
In these so…called books； the chief lover； or Greek god； as he is
admiringly referred toby the way； they do not say which 〃Greek god〃 it
is that the gentleman bears such a striking likeness to； it might be hump…
backed Vulcan； or double…faced Janus； or even driveling Silenus； the god
of abstruse mysteries。 He resembles the whole family of them； however； in
being a blackguard； and perhaps this is what is meant。 To even the little
manliness his classical prototypes possessed； though； he can lay no claim
whatever； being a listless effeminate noodle； on the shady side of forty。
But oh！ the depth and strength of this elderly party's emotion for some
bread…and…butter school…girl！ Hide your heads； ye young Romeos and
Leanders！ this _blase_ old beau loves with an hysterical fervor that
requires four adjectives to every noun to properly describe。
It is well； dear ladies； for us old sinners that you study only books。 Did
you read mankind； you would know that the lad's shy stammering tells a
truer tale than our bold eloquence。 A boy's love comes from a full heart； a
man's is more often the result of a full stomach。 Indeed； a man's sluggish
current may not be called love； compared with the rushing fountain that
wells up when a boy's heart is struck with the heavenly rod。 If you would
taste love； drink of the pure stream that youth pours out at your feet。 Do
not wait till it has become a muddy river before you stoop to catch its
waves。
Or