To Marry Or Not To Marry

Whilst perusing the internets in hopes of finding some good readings for our ceremony (so as to avoid 1 Corinthians, which is beautiful, but also used by everyone) I came across Charles Darwin's list of pros and cons in answer to the question of "To Marry Or Not to Marry?" I've excerpted it here for you:

This is the question

Mary

Children — (if it Please God) —
Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, —
object to be beloved & played with. — —better than a dog anyhow. — Home,
& someone to take care of house — Charms of music & female chit-chat. —
These things good for one's health. — Forced to visit & receive relations
but terrible loss of time. —

W My God, it is intolerable to think of
spending ones whole life, like a neuter bee, working, working, & nothing
after all. — No, no won't do. — Imagine living all one's day solitarily in smoky
dirty London House. — Only picture to yourself a nice soft wife on a sofa with
good fire, & books & music perhaps — Compare this vision with the dingy
reality of Grt. Marlbro' St.

Marry — Marry — Marry Q.E.D.

Not
Mary

No children, (no second life), no one to care for one in old age.—
What is the use of working 'in' without sympathy from near & dear
friends—who are near & dear friends to the old, except relatives

Freedom to go where one liked — choice of Society & little of it. —
Conversation of clever men at clubs — Not forced to visit relatives, & to
bend in every trifle. — to have the expense & anxiety of children — perhaps
quarelling — Loss of time. — cannot read in the Evenings — fatness &
idleness — Anxiety & responsibility — less money for books &c — if many
children forced to gain one's bread. — (But then it is very bad for ones health
to work too much)

Mr. Darwin and I obviously think along the same lines.

If you have suggestions for readings that aren't 1 Corinithians, please feel free to send them my way. Mat has suggested the lyrics to There Is A Light That Never Goes Out but I'm not sure that "to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die" quite sets the right tone.