1856.] The Wife for Me. 581 



"€\t miU fnr 3Kt." 



Horace Hastings was a sober, sensible, enterprising batchelor, 

 of some seven and twenty years, who, having obtained an excellent 

 reputation for his industry and integrity, and having made himself 

 useful to the mercantile jBrm in Boston, with whom he had served 

 an apprenticeship, was at length invited to a partnership in the con- 

 cern. For some time he had been encouraged to anticipate this ele- 

 vation, and he soberly and energetically entered upon the new du- 

 ties of his position. When business crowded, he had but little 

 leisure to mourn his celibate condition; but when the hurrying 

 season was over, and hours each day hung heavy upon his hands, he 

 could not help thinking how delightful it would be had he but a 

 house and a gentle wife of his own. His pecuniary circumstances 

 now warranted such luxuries ; and he resolved to marry when he 

 could find a lady 'just suited to his mind.' 



Near a country village in Maine, not a thousand miles from Ban- 

 gor, lived an old friend of his father ; and being on a collecting tour 

 in that region during the autumn months, he determined to accept 

 an oft repeated invitation to spend a few days with the old gentle- 

 man, and sent a note announcing his coming. 



At the appointed time he reached the residence of his old friend, 

 and found that the family were prepared and pleased to welcome 

 him as a guest. In the parlor were two young ladies, well dressed, 

 and quite handsome. He was duly introduced to Miss Jane and 

 Charlotte, and found them accomplished and sensible youno- ladies. 

 Being just now very susceptible to tender passion, he was easily 

 pleased, and exerted his powers to render himself agreeable to the 

 flattered maidens. He succeeded, of course. Sensible men, of his 

 age and prospects, always do, when they try. And his ej^es, wander- 

 ing in conversation, from one handsome, intelligent face to another, 

 he caught himself several times mentally inquiring — ' Which would 

 make the better wife ? ' 



The mother and a neat looking maid were seen at intervals passing 

 from the kitchen preparing supper. The girl who set out the table, 

 and spread the white, stainless cloth, and arranged the plates, seem- 

 ed to do it gracefully and quietly, as if she had made such duties a 

 study as a science, and won a passing glance of admiration as a very 



