Year: 1867

We are engaged to be married. We.
that is, 1 and the young lady who has
honored me by accepting my offer. It
took place. mean the proposal-about
three weeks ago, and think it may be
of use to others TO know how I feel, and
what they may hare to expect if they
find themselves in the same position. I
may at once say that | am no catch. +
am not an eldest son, and I am not heir
to any property. The only land I pos
sess is contained in half dozen flower,


pots, and the timber which grows in them
consisting principally of geraniums and
mignonette, is not likely ever to be cut
down to pay my debts. That little bit
of ground and that:ifelksr / am ready to
settle. She was to tell her. mother the
same evening that ! had proposed, and I
was to callin the morning to speak to
my future mother-in-law. This I pro-
posed to do on that delicious evening
when-I will call her Araminta-prom-
ised TO be mine. I knew that my pre-.
tensions were not very favorably looked
at; but I felt plucky. / went to bed
thinking life all sunshine. 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 aform as she
did before the happy words were spoken
and her father and mother had to be COM
municated with. l am not sure for an
instant / did not wish that I was going
by the next train for Jericho. But bet
ter feelings soon prevailed, and about
one | walked out to Eaton square, bold
ly knocked at the door, and in a second
or two after heard what was evidently
the drawingroom bell ring, and ] could
easily fancy what it was for. "If it is
Mr.. Smith, show him into tho library"
[ was shown into the little room called
the library, and the servant said, sLady
Blank will be down in few minutes,
sir" l tried to feel calm, and not so
much furried as if came to see dentist. l
could not think what l was to say to
Araminta's mother, but I trusted she
would help me o1t 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 FIRE place. Of
course We commenced with the weather
and Reform, though We both felt that we
did not know what We were talking about
aud / remember distinctly telling her as
bit of political news, that the barome-
ter had fallen to 96 rental, and would
pay its own rates. After very aWk-
ward pause she said that she had
thought it better to see nae here first, as
l might want to speak to heralone Some
how or another, / jerked cut few SEN
tences to imply that I was delighted to
talk to her, and that I wanted to marry
Araminta. Lady Blank I knew had
wanted her daughther to marry a big
ger swell than me and she was disap-
pointed. And she showed it, no doubt


I had to listen to a long description of
the inprudence Of marriage, which, I
have no doubt, had been used in the FAM
lily before on previous occasions for some
generations. | paid very great attention
and after some tears on the one side, and
an assurance from nae that a marriage
with me was not the awful fate she might
imagine, it ended by her telling me I
might go up to the drawing where
/ should find Araminta. This did i'm
mediately, and of that interview | shall
say nothing. Toe soon for me, knock
at the door came, aud in came sister to
ask if we were not coming to lunch. That
entry into lunch was rather awful. There
was certain restraint about every one
at first, as if all had stiff joints; and Ar
aminta's three sisters, of ages from II to
%. appeared 70 be in dilemma as to
what they ought to call me. Was to
be Mr.. Smith, or was l now to be imme-
.diately called William? A couple Of
young brothers, who ought to have haen
at school. made themselves very aisa-
greeable by the usual vulgar insinuations
of little boys, and even though they were
Araminta' S favorites, did not feel at oil
like brother law to them. One of
them / admire, however, very much. He
was clever lad, and will no doubt do


well. As I was going cut of the room


he stopped me for minute. and said, In
a whisper. aAin't it jolly?-tip US a
sovereign Of course he got it. That
afternoon, win not hesitate to say, was
about the pleasantest / ever had; but still


to tell the truth, devoted as 1 was, l was
glad to get away in time to smoke ci-
gar before dinner, to think over matters.


But havee9 time now TO give you the
rest of my Experience; she is just ready
to go out for a walk. Odd it is how fond
girl is of parading her conquest in the
streetsl Some day | may give you some
more of my feelings at this critical pc
riod; and William, are you ready:
Araminta is waiting" That's mamma
| in London World.


Milwaukee has dog factory, the pro-


prietor of which pays liberal prices for