Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-01-10
From Godey's Lady's Boob, for January, 1916.
EN- GAGGED AT SIXTEEN.
BY t. S. ARTHUR.

4
BY t. S. ARTHUR.
Mrs Lee is quite fortunate with her daugh-
ters, remarked a visitor to Mrs Wyman,
whose oldest child, well grown girl Of IF
teen, was string by. Il
yes Kate and Harriet went of in good
time She has only Fanny left
Who is to be married this winterP
Fanny
she is engaged to Henry Florence
Indeed And she has only Just turned OF
sixteen. How fortunate, truly l--Some
people have their daughters on their hands |
until they are two or three-and-twenty, when
the chances for good matches are very low.
was only sixteen when l was married.
Your
Certainly; and then had rejected two
or three young men. There is nothing like
early marriages, depend upon it, Mrs Clay
ton They always turn out the best. The
most desirable young men take their pick
Of the youngest girls, and leave the older
ones for second rate claimants.
DO you hear that, Annar Mrs Clayton
said, laughing as she turned to Mrs Wy
mans daughter Il hope you will not re-
main moment later than your mother did
upon the maiden list
Anna blushed slightly, but did not reply.
What had been said, however, made its inn
preston on her mind. She felt that to be
? engaged early was matter much TO be de-
sired
my mother was married at sixteen, and
here am fifteen, and without lover So
thought Anna, as she paused over the page
of new novel, some hours after she had
listened TO the conversation that passed be-
tween her mother and Mrs Clayton, aud
| unused Of love and matrimony.
From that time, Anna Wyman was an
= other girl. The sweet simplicity of man
ner the unconscious innocence peculiar to
her age, gradually vanished. Her eye, that
was so clear and soft with the light Of girl
: hoods pleasant fancies, grew earnest and
restless, and, at times, intensely bright. The
e whole expression of her countenance was
s new. 1t was no longer placid sky, with
scarce a cloud floating in its quiet depths,
!, but changeful as April, with its tears and
y smiles blending in strange beauty. Her
. heart, that had long beat TRANQUILITY, would
now bound at thought, and send the
: bright crimson to her cheek, would fatter
# at the sight of the very individual whom she
n short time before, could meet without {
e single wave ruffling the surface Of her feel
= ngs, The woman had suddenly displeased
a the girl sis,erly regard. that pure affect
. ION wnicn an innocent maidon's heart ma
h for all around her. had expired on the ALTA
}, where was kndling up the deep passion
called lore And yet Anna Wyman had no
}. reached her sixteenth year.
i All at once, she became restless, capri
e cious, unhappy. She had been at schoo
up to this period, but now insisted that sh'
was too old for that; her mother seconded
Z. this view Of the matter, and her father,
?; man ofpretty good sense had to yield
:. We must give Anna party, now Mr.
y Wyman said, after their daughter had lei
school.
IN why soi asked the father.
as 'Oh-because it is time that she was be
lie ginning to come out
TO Come out, howP
re you are stupid man. Come out j
u the list of young ladies. Go into CON
- pany.'
II But she is mere child, yet--not 81,
teen.'
Not sixteen And how old was pray
ct when you married me 2
a. The husband did not reply.
o. How old was !, Mr. Wyman p
' n About sixteen, believe
ho well and was mere child 2
NO You were rather young to marry,
yes least, Mr. Wyman ventured to say.-Th
lat remark was made rather too feelingy.
cal Too young to marry calculated the wifi
elr in tone Of surprise and indignation--'to
NV young to marry; and my husband to say s.
ers too Mr. Wyman, do you mean to intima
di- do you mean to say ?-Mr Wyman, VIII
les do you mean by that remark I?
he oh, nothing at ALL smoo,hingly repli'
40 the husband; only that l.
Is, 'WhatT
~ That don't, as a general thing, appro'
he of very early marriages. The character
Der young lady is not formed before twent
rs, one or two: nor has she gained that expe
on ence aud knowledge Of the world that W
st- enable her to choose with wisdom
.e' you don't pretend to say that my cha
80 acter was not formed at sixteenl This W
en- accompanied by threatening look
of Whatever his thoughts were, Mr. Wynn
md took good care not to express Them.
de- merely said
eav Il believe, Margaret, that haven't volu
not teered any allusion to you
ally Yes, but you don't approve of early mi
wn rages.'
ese True
and well, didn't ! marry at sixteen "A
and isn't your opinion reflection upon 20
ole wife =
circumstances alter cases, smilingly