Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-04-21
From the Home Journal,
Engaged, and Almost Wed.
AN INTERCEPTED LETTER.

The following letter from young la
dy Just on the eve of marriage, to her
bridemaid, has by peculiar combination
of circumstances come into our posses
sion, and it is so naive and piquant in
its revelations that We readily yield to
the temptation to share the pleasure of
perusing it with our readers. We do this
unhesi,atingly, because of the certainty
that il involves no breach of confidence
or honor, at least on our part, toward the
parties mentioned. If there is any vio-
lation of the sacred rights of private cor
respondence, the blame rests entirely
with others.
Dearest An,anda,-I am about to in
form you of an event, which to me is
most important, most thrilling. l am
engaged. Yes, dearest and sweetest
friend, l have given my heart, with all
its wealth of tender affections, into the
keeping of another. i want you to come
here at once, and officiate as first BRIDE
maid. i have an idea, which Fred says
is very original and artistic, and he GER
tainly ought to know, as he is wielder of
the magic brush. Never shall / forget
the first time that l beheld him, standing
before his easel, with scarlet velvet cap
resting upon his manly brow, and pal
ct in his hand covered with snch sug-
gestive little daubs of paint-and the
look he gave me, when friend said,
+" Mr.. Stanton, let me introduce you to
Miss Ellsworth" 1t seemed to read my
very heart and soul, which were his from
that moment. O, Amanda, have you
ever felt the first bewildering emotions OF
new born love? If so, you will sympa-
thize with and pardon the weakness Of
your simple friend Arethusa.
But I was going to tell you-I want
my bridemaids to represent the colors Of
the rainbow. You must wear violet
which will suit SO cbarmingly your deli
cate skin. Fred says that, of course, l
shall be the sun, which is quite appro-
pirate, on account of my hair. He says
it was that which first attracted him =
"but," he asked me the other day, +" il
( you are the sun, and your bridemaids are
Fthe rainbow, what am I?' told him
that he could be the black cloud, out o.
which the sun shines pretty idea, rather
isn't it?
l want your dress to be of the very
richest silk, with lace over-dress. There
is one point upon which l must insist, anc
that is the lace point; nothing but tht
very choicest can tolerate. / told FREQ
that was very decided about this, ane
he said, that is right; always be firm
in the path Of. duth, Arethusa YOU
principles are sublime" o, Amanda, i
4 is such heavenly bliss to feel that hav'
won the affections of a being SO superior
Melinda Jones was married, the othe
day, in old-fashioned thread lace, ant
such show of it such barbarous taste
If were so poverty stricken that coule
not afford more fashionable trimmings,
certainly would not make it so conspic
uous. Of course, Amanda, should no
specify your dress so particularly if yo,
had not rich pa, but l am not going t.
have any poor girls stand up with me,
never did like poor girls, they have sucl
a pinched, patched look. My own dres
will be of satin, and want to have
train four yards long, but Fred says
had better take off yard or two, ant
then let little boy walk behind me witt
roll of white satin in his hand, to sho,
people that it is not from any contempt
ible ideas of economy that | have mode
rated my skirt. 1 intend to have fou
little negroes, clothed all in white, t
hold up my train. Fred says they viii
look like Pluto's imps, but l do no
knowwho he means looked all throug
the biographical dictionary, but l could
not find any such person in it--probabl
some old chum Of his.
As regards ornaments, I should like t
have you all wear pearls; 1. of cours
shall have diamonds. Fred thinks pearl
are more appropriate for bride but
very soon silenced him in respect to thai
If he thinks that he is going to get o.
from giving me set of diamonds, he
greatly mistaken. 1t is just as we'll to lie
him understand from the very, outse
what is expected of him. 0, Amand
the love that feel for that man!
would be willing toshare shepherds hu
with him, were it not for the confined at
mosphere and tallow candles. Agains
the last my whole soul rebels; for th
aristoc attic soul, you know, ANA nda,
painfully sensitive.
We shall have flowers at the church
and at the house want two hearts mad
of roses, and intertwined, to hang righ
above our heads. 1t would be go touch