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Show WHY PEOPLE MARRY. The inconsistencies of men and women concerning love affairs are past explanation. Theory and practice differ so materially that the news of an engagement is always received with surprise, calling forth such remarks as, "How came he to address her? He always said he did not fancy that style of women. Why did she accept him? She has told me over and over again she could not bear that sort of man." Is this perversity, or change of mind? Doubtless the great majority of people are in too great haste to rush into matrimony. "My dears," said an old lady to some young friends, "do not be in a hurry to marry. If you put it off till late in life and get a good husband, you will have waited to some purpose. If, however, you get a bad one, you will have less time to be disturbed by him." This advice, although good, may be pushed too far. One may either not marry at all, or may put off doing so like an old lady in Virginia, who was led to the altar at the blushing age of seventy-five summers, and who observed hilariously, that "she always knew she would not be an old maid." Many men (and women too) marry for wealth. One of this sort had the good fortune to be accepted by an heiress. At the wedding, when he got to this part of the ceremony, "With all my worldly goods, I thee endow." "There goes his valise," said one of the bride's relations, spitefully. Another fortune-hunter, who found after marriage that his bride's father would not settle anything upon him, consoled himself by speaking of the old man's possession as "my money-in-law," "my carriage-in-law," and so on. Two more stories on this subject, and we have done. A backwoods lover, not having quite enough money to pay the parson, on the day of the wedding sent on a friend in advance to strike a bargain with the reverend father. This friend met the bridal party half way, and forgetting the importance of the secrecy, called out triumphantly "I say, Jim, he says he will take it in ducks." Imagine the bridegroom's discomfiture! One newly married man, noticing his bride wept during the ceremony, burst into tears, too, and remarked sobbingly "somehow I am as sorry as she is." |