Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08

assisting her mother in her household duties,
she is "stuck-up" on her namesake, the sofa, |
weeping sentimental tears over a love-siek
novel, or stunning like mad, and bowling
like a catamount over the latest piece from
POPera. She is a tawdry piece of millinery,
all fuss and feathers and hoops, with much
less ideas of appreciation of an honest work
ing man than she has of a poodle dog ; for
she will kiss and caress the latter. while a
manly, honorable advance from the former
would send her reeling into the regions of
swoondom Utmost beyond recovery by her
aromatic salts bottle. No ~persuasions could
induce her to marry a man that was not able,
.pecuniarily, to indulge her in the same Ian
guild, ~listless, useless, lazy life to which she
has been accustomed. Miss Sophie marry a
mcdaniel The very idea would throw her
into hysterical fits that it is shocking to con-
template.
Now, Lady Editress, what an / to do?I
l have told you c~andidly, two or three times,
that wouldlike to marry, but, honor bright,
would you advise me to risk my happiness
and welfare in life upon either one of the three
classes have personifed, even if | could get
them? And since | have shown their unap-
proachableness by a young man who is all
you say he ought to be, what am | to do p
Is there another class of young ladies, who
have the sense to discern the merit, and the
candor to appreciate the character of a gen.
tleman Mechanic-who though poor in this
worlds goods and compelled to labor in an
honorable but hardy calling for a living, is
recognized as worthy of their companionship
in the sacred and endearing ties of matrimo-
ny? fso, and you will give me an sintro-
duce," | promise you, faithfully, to ''try and
make myself worthy of her, and then to WOO
and wed her." Yours truly,
am afraid, sweet Hally," you have not
been listening to the sweet notes of the
Moeking Bird" but that some dark winged
Raven has been croaking around you, until
you have become wrapped in a pail so dark
and gloomy, that even the sweet smiles of
woman cannot penetrate. Come, cheer up,
and will strive to WOO you into a happier
mood.
l fear, my young friend Hal, that you have
not studied woman's nature and her loves,
with an appreciative eye. Why, know you
not that your sex have long time ago pro
nounced her "a contradiction p'
Some waltz; some draw some fathom the abyss
OF metaphysics others are content
With music, the most moderate shine as wits,
While others have a genius turn'd for ftsu
But Byron truly personified her sex, O.
course with exceptions, when in his "Bridt
of Abydos," he said
"Soft as the memory Of buried love,
Pure as the prayer which childhood watts above
Was she-the daughter Of that rude old chief,i
But am free to admit that your structure
on the characters of 'Fannie"-aOphelia
and Sophie" though rather ~overdrawn il
some respects, have their living representa-
tives in real life but they are not all tn
F~annies, 0pheiias and Sophies in the world
Hunt them out-they are all around YOU
is only by the search you will be able to d.
tect the pure gem from the tawdry counter
felt Let me analyze your characters afte
my fashion: Fanny, you say, sis a cheer
little creature-all sunshine and ~viyacit,
and has withal a goodly share of good sense.
Now, if you have given her a correct chara'
ter, she is the very one for you-you ca
mould her into what you will, and make h
just the dearest little wife that ever man W;
blest with. But because you think she
"stuck up and proud, and has not be,
learned to work, (asad omission, | grant 20
you reason yourself into the belief that Isl
is not fit for a Mechanics wife" A sad mi
take, Hal If Fanny is deficient in hou:
hold education, she is just the girl to NAL
one of the ''aptest scholars" you ever h
under your tuition. In a month from t
time you had installed her mistress of a
ct happy home, she would be a perf
adept at making pie-crust, plying the broc
!, and oh! that great big rough hand
yours, she would take it between her S
, palms and kiss it with as much tendern,
as if it were smooth as velvet. Suppose S
, is a bit silly about the little smattering
! French she has got by heart, that noble, M
ly husband you would make her would so
make it give place to that good old Sax
!. you so much admire, and she would welco
e you to her arms as you return begrin
!. with the dust of the work shop. But
for shame, Hal, to be found "making Fl
at and ~ridiculing your brother mechan
daughter, and throwing the "old mai
!. brick and mortar at her. She is none
:. worse for his lowly, but honest beginning
nor he either; and if she is infected with
!, epidemic for a little display and pleas,
seeking, she is no heartless ~coquette, bu
~ just the girl to make you a good wife al
happy man.
= Next in your list comes Ophelia-a sv
name, and by your own confession, "a wol
of good traits, and might be made a m,
woman" But you say she is rich, and III
fore an impossible gulf is placedIbetweer
II L ~