The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1890-11-29
TRANSLATED from the German for this paper by
Alex. E. Sweet

~ NlyM mother begins
to look around
for a suitable daughter-in-law, in which
meretricious purpose she usually re-
ceives considerable encouragement from
the young man himself. He is, how
ever, expected by the parents of the
prospective bride to come to the point
without unnecessary delay. Let us sup
pose that a young man has been visiting
family where there was marriage
able daughter, and after several weeks
has neglected to declare his intentions,
the head Of the family takes him aside
and says: ''My dear young friend, this 10
all very well; but what do you mean,
any how2"
II the young man does not take this
h int nobody comes to the door the next
time he pulls the bell. However, as a
general thing there is no occasion for
any reminder. The young people be-
come engaged, after which they go to
balls and parties, or to picnics together,
pretty much tho same as they do in this
country. There is some remarkable
Sownward tendency of lampwicks Sat
hrday nights, etc.
Occasionally, engagements are broken
off. After a couple have been engaged
perhaps for years, either party may
como right out and say; 81 think we
are not fitted for each other, and per-
haps it would be better if we part
right now" The other party has no al
tentative but to acquiesce, and thanks
70 the phlegmatic nature Of the race,
there are no scenes, no duels, or any
thing of the kind. The young lady abb
stains from balls or parties, she does
not attend any places of public amuse-
ment for six weeks, at the expiration of
which self-imposed penance she resumes
her former relations to society. No
body finds any thing remarkable in the
severance Of the engagement, and the
young men who formerly admired the
young lady do not keep aloof from pay
ing her their addresses.
In some parts Of Holland there ex-
fists very pretty custom in regard to
making proposal of marriage that might
be advantageously adopted in other
countries. II young man is In love,
but is too modest to declare his love, he
does not permit such concealment ''like
Q worm to feed upon his damask cheek"
but he buys cake, and, after carefully
wrapping 1t up In q piece Of tissue
paper, no repairs TO the house Of the
object OF his affections. Finding all the
family present, no places the cake on
the table in front Of the young lady.
Although she has been expecting this
very event, she, nevertheless, betrays
considerable surprise. Her mother APP
parently takes no notice of what is
going on, while tho father takes the
young man to the window and con.
verses with him about the weather, etc.
This is done in order to give the young
lady chance to make up her mind.
The young man looks around over his
shoulder, suffering much mental an.
guish, and trying to find out what the
fair One is going to do with that cake.
If she loves him, but likes to tease
him, as is generally the case, she makes
out as If. she was undecided. She ex.
amines the cake carefully. 1t smells
of spices, and the young fellow, although
little awkward, is not such bad look
ing fellow after all.
Shall she take him, or not? She hest.
tates an instant, and then raising the
cake TO her mouth buries her pearly
teeth in 1t. This signifies that she has
accepted him as her future husband.
Tho poor devil in the corner heaves q
sigh of relief. The mother of the young
lady drops her knitting and gazes with
mixed emotions at her daughter devour-
ing the cake. The prospective husband
spreads out his arms as If for an embrace,
but, remembering that it is unbecoming
In true Dutchman to betray excessive
emotions, allows them to drop to his
sides. Then he modestly approaches
his Dulcinea, and gently taking the
hand that has toyed so long with the
cake, he imprints q kiss-the first one
on IL.
When, however, the sutton is not the
right one, no matter how much he may
clear his throat. and tell how prosperous
his business is, and how he proposes to
take trip up the Rhine pretty soon--a
trip up the Rhine being the Dutch
equivalent to a bridal tour to Niagara
Falls-the girl remains immoyable She
keeps ON sowing, looking neither to tho
right nor to the left. Finally the young
man sees which way the cat is going to
jump. He gets up and slowly approaches
the table. 1t is plain to see that the
girl Is trying to suppress her excite
ment. Perhaps another has already
claimed her heart, or, possibly, she
may have . prejudice against her
snitor. Nothing in the world could in
duce her to look up from her work. He
reaches out his hand, picks up the cake,
and while the girls mother murmurs:
s'Poor fellow" he makes his exit, say
ing; "vaarvoel byzamen" or farewell
everybodyr
No mention is ever made of the affair.
The public knows nothing about it, and
not even the most intimate friends of
the young lady ever hear of it The
wind is thus "tempered to the shorn
I q m n - Army II SxurETr