Year: 1867




\ lady who has hOnored me by accepting
my offer. 1t took place. mean the
propoEal- about three weeks ago and 1
think it may be Of use to others to know
how I feel, and what they may have to
expect if they find themselves in the same
position. I may at once say. that I am
no catch. I am not an eldest son, and 1
am not heir to any property. The only
/ land I possess is contained In half a dOz-
en- fower-pots, and the timber which
grows in them, eonasting principally of
geraniums and mignOnette, is not likely
ever to be cut down to pay my debts
That little bit Of ground and that timber
l am ready to settle. She was to tell her
mother the same evening that had pro-
posed, and I was to call in the morning
to speak to my future mother-in-law.-
This 1 proposed to do on that delicious
evening When-I will call her Araminta
promised to be mine. I knew that my
pretensiOns were not very favourably
looked at; but felt pluekya I went to
bed thinking life all a sunshine. I awoke
to find that the feelings of morning, when
there is snow on the ground and your
candles lighted to dress by Will not bear
comparison with those of the evening be-.
fore. Araminta did not appear to my
imagination in as bright form as she
did before the happy words were spoken,
and her father and mother had to be COM.
municated with I am not sure for an
instant [ did not wish that I was going
/ by the next train to Jericho. But better
feelings soon prevailed, and about one 1
walked out to EatoR-square, 1 boldly
knocked at the door, and In a second or
two after heard what was evidently the
draWing-rOOm bell ring, and could east
ly fancy what was for. eff it is Mr.
Smith, show him into the library" I
was shown into the little room called
the library, and the servant said, Lady
Blank Will be down in a few minutes,
sir" tried to feel calm, and not so
much as if I came to see a dentist. I
could not think what was to say to Ara
minta mother. but I trusted she would
help me out of the difficulty. And so
she did. After what seemed to me an
age, the door opened, and IN came Lady
Blank. We shook hands, and sat down
on each side of the fireplace. Of course
we commenced with the weather and Re
form, though we both felt that we did
not know what we were talking about
and I remember distinctly telling her, as
bit Of political news, that the barome-
ter had fallen to a e6 rental, and would
pay its own rates. After a very awkward
pause she said that she had thought it
better to see me here first, as I might
want to speak to her alone. Somehow or
another, jerked out a few sentences to
imply that 1 was delighted to talk to
her, and that wanted to marry Araminta
Lady Blank I knew had wanted her
daughter to marry bigger swell than
me and she was disappointed. And she
showed it, no doubt. had to listen to
a long description Of the imprudence Of
marriage, which, I have no doubt, had
been used in the family before on previ-
Gus occasions for some generations.
paid very great attention, and after some
tears on the one side, and an assurance
from me that a marriage with me was not
the awful fate she might imagine, it end
ed by her telling me might 90 up to
the drawing-rOOm, where I should find
Araminta This l did Immediately, and
Of that interview I shall say nothing
Too soon for me, a knock at the door
came, and in came a sister to ask if we
were not coming to lunch. That entry
into lunch was rather awful. There was
a certain restraint about every one at first,
as if all had stiff joints and Aramintas
three sisters, of ages from II to p, ap-
peared to be in a dilemma as to what
they ought to call me. Was I to be Mr..
Smith, or was I now to be Immediately
called William A couple Of young
brothers, who ought to have been at
school, made themselves very disagreea-
bic by the usual vulgar insinuatiOns of
little boys, and, even though they were
Araminty' favorites, I did not feel at all
like a brother-in-law to them. One Of
them admired, however, very much
He was a clever lad, and viii no doubt
do we'll As I was going out Of the room
he stopped me for minute, and said, in
a whisper. Saint it Jolly Tip US a
sovereign" Of course he got it. That
afternoon will not hesitate to say, was
about the pleasantest I ever had; butstill,
to tell the truth, devoted as I was, I was
glad to get away in time to smoke a cigar
before dinner, to think over matters
But have no time now to give you the
rest Of my experience; she is Just ready
to go out for a walk Odd 1t is how,fond
a girl is Of parading her conquest in the
streets! Some day may give you some
more of my feelings at this critical peri
ed; and I - William, are you ready:
Araminta is waiting" That's mamma
in-law.-L London World.


O. A R--ELEIn.-Tha IIninn of this