Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-01-27
, GIRLS AND MATRIMoNY.
NY KATY cuwsLIr.

Girls, listen TO me. You all come in the
world for purpose; that purpose is matrimony,
and the sooner you that are eligible set about
getting husband, the better for yourselves and
those who otherwise will continue to be cigar
sucking, toddy drinking, miserable castaways.
Winter is congenial to matrimony, and II is here
with itslong cosy freside evenings, its busting
parties and frolicksome balls; any girl with her
proper wits about her, need not see the Spring
flowers above ground without an engagement
her hands, if she but half embrace the cham :
certain to be offered her. Look before Y "
leap is good old grandmother's saylng >
girls, don't throw the half of a good char |
away; it may not offer again. When your & $
is fairly hooked, don't play with him too loI
or he may break your line; but wind away T.
the reel, steadily with will. When you ha
Igot him nearly TO land let mamma give him
slight jerk; then slip your hand net undernei
and flop it over him, vi hen he finds himself in
Cook him almost directly. Men are very M II
like fsh-they don't keep fresh long after being
caught.
Have nothing to do with erratic bipeds with
no fixed intentions. Such fellows there are who
Twill loll on your sofas, turn the leaves of your
music books and your heads with silly nothing
ness, at the same time monopolize you for all
the fancy dances play waiter behind your chair
at supper, be your humble servant at theatres
and concert-rooms, and serenade you through
a two or three years campaign-haye nothing
to do with them.
Whistle such danglers off. Cut them dead
after taking them on trial for winter and a
summer, and begin fresh on a novelty. If a
man does not come to the popping point after a
winters dancing, and S,Rmer's riding and ice
Icreaming, he won't do Teat all. He is not a
marrying man, aud you had better, for your own
sakes, hand such over to your young sisters,
just out of pantaletts, smelling nice and fresh
of bread and butter who have the time TO waste
.op trifles. You haye none.
Mind, | don't say, don't wait for a man if you
are sure of him. Never care if he is poor
poor and worthy. Your father was poor man,
ten to one, when he married your mother. If
you love the fellow, and he merits it, love on;
wait until he is in position TO make the pot boil
and keep it boiling; and then some afternoon,
when your father is happy in himself and at
peace with the world, throw yoIrself upon his
heart; wait until his dinner is digested, and then
put dear Harry's love straight at him.
Procrastination is the tkief of time. Don't
let the men procrastnate. Make them clearly
define their positions. TO be or not to be; that
lis the question: | admire a warm-he4rted,
trong-loving girl, one who, when her love
lis well bestowed, is not ashamed 10
let the world see her happiness; but | hate
matchmaking mammas, and despise girls who
spend four or five of the best years of their
lives in waiting and knitting purses, working
slippers for set of fellows whose hearts are in
their taior's pattern book. These are the men
that are killing the purposes Of your lives, they
are stealing away that fresh goodness Of heart,
and pure impulse of thought apd action, which
every girl should bring her husband as a dowry.
They will hang around you until you are thirty
Iif you make up WELL can bear the test Of gas
light, and have friends in set they cannot afford
to cut they will keep away from your plain,
honest and sensible men, Qualities the daugh-
tiers cannot clam,( who would make old age
happy. Look for one Of this latter class, then
you will preserve your pure womanly nature;
your love for him will spring up again TO you
ten fold in your children, ard be perpetual in
your husbands grateful heart. Ii you oanLot
end such men, and live on alone with yourself,
until you are world-hacken, why then victimze
one Of the dangiers. When he is sated, and
proved the vanity Of ali, he viii CONC 10 you;
marry him, and think yourself well off
But marry, girls, marry; your mission is mat
rimony. Think of forty-fve in spectacles, with
a cat, knitting needles, chess-board and chronic
rheumatism, and shudder, Dream Of this, and
then of a home, lire-side, dear Harry rompng
with Harry, Jr., you teaching small copy oi
yourself her letters, mother rocking mina'
ture masculine in the cradle, and Mary, sweet
little Mary, your eldest, playing Sweet Home
on the plaro. Look on that picture of old, lore
forgotten, forty five maidenhood. Dream of il
by night, and by day too, and when Harry says
will yOu?' say you 'yes!