THE FIRST EXGAGKMKXT. 55 



vm. 



THE FIEST ENGAGEMENT. 



IT is pleasant to turn to one of the brightest chapters of the amenities of 

 home and consider that pleasant episode of home life "the first engage- 

 ment." 



When it is an arrangement which satisfies prudent papa and mamma, 

 this is the most delightful moment of mature life. It makes one young 

 again to see the happiness of two young lovers. "All men love a 

 lover." The introduction of a new son or daughter that deep feeling of 

 rest that our son or daughter is to have the anchorage of marriage these 

 are delicious reflections. We forget our trials, our cankering cares, we 

 forget that they, too must fight the same hard battle of life which we 

 have got nearly through, and we see only the blissful side of the picture. 

 If, however, we do not entirely approve, it is a great duty, and one 

 which we owe our children, to hide from them any fancied antipathy to 

 the chosen one whom we may not wholly love. Given good principles 

 and good education, good health and a moderate certainty of a future 

 living, and no parent has a right, if his child is sincerely attached, to 

 find fault with his or her choice. 



Of course, no mother ever saw any wife quite good enough for her son ; 

 no father imagines that the man can be born who is worthy of his daugli- 

 SometiiiH's, without meaning it, this feeling will show itself ; but it 

 had murh better l.e kept out of sight, if possible. 



Hither a family should take a girl wholly to their hearts, and treat her 

 as their own daughter, or they should decidedly disapprove from the HIM. 

 No mutilated courtesy, no half-handed generosity, no carping criticism i , 

 ju>t or honourable. That their son loves her, wishes to make her hi* wife, 

 should be a very unanswerable argument for her hearty adoption into the 

 family. Ami with regard to a daughter's husband the same, and even 

 ct should be shown. The old reproach against mothers-in- 

 law ii-.w rather relegates its.-]}' to old comedy ; it is not believed that they 



ble Bfl tin- " ( 'ampai^nrr" in " 1 VnoVimU" 



B mother-in-law .should let her sons-in-1 iw B6Yerely aim,-, nor dare, 

 I a very near relationship to him, to interfere in the 



household authority, liini^ about the education of 



children. 



'I'll,. i-Miinggirl who enter- ;i targe family as the betrothal >f one of the 

 ditlieult roll to till. Tnless she is frank and sincere, 



