The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-23
The Fancy Match.

The Fancy Match.
Maria Greenwood was very intelligent ane
accomplished young lady, but of rather toe
romantic turn of mind. This feature of hel
| character she most discovered in her discussion
of matrimony with Mrs. Atkins, in whose fam
lily she was living. On certain occasion, she
heard Mrs. Atkins make some casual remark
TO which she replied, why, Mrs. Atkins,
have often heard you say that love is the basis
Of matrimonial happiness. Have you changed
| your opinion?"
To this remark Mrs. Atkins replied, ..By
no means, Maria What has induced you te
| think that have?"
Why said Maria, '.just as I stepped into
the room, heard you say 70 Mr.. Jones, that
love would do very well, but that something
else was requisite
'sAnd that is just as I think, Maria. and Mr.
Jones agrees with me in this opinion
Certainly do" said Mr. Jones. sThere
must be love, but there must be something else
besides loye-something to esteem as well as
fancy"
$50 I think, Mr.. Jones. though Maria hardly
agrees with me. -
Possibly Mrs. Atkins had expressed herself
a little ambiguously, for Maria insisted that she
was not quite consistent with herself, or that
she had hitherto misunderstood her.
However this may have been, Mrs Atkins
had not much faith in romantic love or fancy
matches. She had seen more of the world than
Maria, and took more correct view of matters
and thing than she. But Maria did not think
so-she was sure she judged correctly, for she
Judged according to the dictates of nature-so
at least, she said, "and nature she knew was
| infallible''
To Mrs. Atkins she would often say, 'Why
you seem to be very skeptical- you don't con.
| tide in any thing. should almost conclude
| that you were Pyrrhonist!'
| At remarks of this kind, Mrs. Atkins would
only smile, and replying say, 'sMara wher
you have seen more Of the world, you will think
more as 1 do. If am too skeptical, you are
too romantic! Your bright sunshine will after
a time darken-your calm, smooth sea be ruf.
fled with wavesr'
/ A few years before this time, Maria had lost
her parents, and had, in consequence, been
placed in the family of Mrs. Atkins, and as the
result Of this relation to her family, Mrs. Atkins
| felt a special interest in her welfare.
! 1t happened one day that, as the family were
discussing the subject of marriage, Maria re-
marked to Mrs. Atkins, Nov Ihave seen some
thing to faver my views of matrimony if they
are romantic"
''What have you seen, Maria?"
"Why, | have seen in Slliman's journal ar
account of a love affair just to my notion
"And what is it, pray, Maria?"
| ''Protessor iSllliman relates, that gentleman
on certain occasion, whilst attending church
happening to be delighted with the music, cast
| his eye up to the gallery, and there he saw a
young lady that struck his fancy so, that, though
a perfect stranger to the lady, lie determined te
seek her acquaintance, and to address her
This, too, he did, and he married her, and the
result was happy marriage. Now, Mrs. At
kins, wasn't that q fancy match?''
| Il think it was, and very hazardous one. .
"Hazardous!'' said Maria, "eyery match is
hazardous one If should ever be married,
should expectt to run some rsk--Who doesn't?'
"Why, Maria,' said Mrs. Atkins, Il am
sorry to hear you talk so, for persons who ex.
pect hazards always meet them, or, if not al.
ways usually do.''
s.Mrs. Atkins" said Maria, "you are too apt
to look on the dark side Of things; always look
on the bright side, and then if the worst comes,
l suffer only the real evils, not the imaginary
ones.' " @-
'True, Maria,' said Mrs Atkins, "butsome-
times, when we anticipate evils, we take mea-
sures to avoid Them"
"And sometimes, too," said Maria, 'swhen
we anticipate them, they never come; and all
our anxiety in such a case is useless
81 am aware of that" said Mrs. Atkins, sbut
still consider it best to consult probabilities -
s'Ah! that is too mathematical for me- said
Maria, Il would rather do as the mariner does
go to sea at venture-'
''And get wrecked!!"
''Ah that might be, but it might not"
Hundreds have been wrecked even in ma
trimony.'' l=@@ |
g True, and hundreds of sailors, too; but
would it not look amazingly foolish for sailor
to sit down and calculate his chances at sea-"
''But the sailor does not 60 to sea without
some calculation
"And of what value is it? For how can lie
tell beforehand what the weather will be, how
many dangers to encounter or afterwards, how
to delight to speak of his exposure, or how look
upon himself with SO much self gratulation?'
''But, Maria, the storm at sea is soon over,
and the danger past, but when trouble arises in
the matrimonial life, it becomes permanent at
least. there is danger of its becoming so.''
"And the greater the danger, the more ro-
mantle" said Maria.
"Then, on your principle" said Mrs. Atkins.
II think there need be little or no love at all -
..Oh. said Maria, RI don't carry things so
far as that; only | would love at a venture"
Then if you fancy man, that is enough?'
"Yes, just as the gentleman did the lady in
the choir of singers-that was a lovely mar
rage! | should congratulate myself on having
a similar good fortune
aWhy, Maria, would you marry man with
out knowing his good quallties?'
"Indeed | would if | fancied him.
well then, shall have to weep for you"
..Yes, ma am, tears Of Joy.
Without continuing the conversation any
farther, Mrs Atkins retired from the room,
having, at The time. to call on an acquaintance
on some business ofspecial importance. Whilst
she was thus employed, gentleman who had
never seen Maria, took occasion, in company
with friend of his, to call in moment, pro-
fessedly, to see Mrs. Atkins, but really, to take
q look at Maria. Learning that Mrs. Atkins
was out at the time, the friend of the gentleman