ENGAGED.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4659, 10 December 1883, Page 2

ENGAGED.

When a young lady is really and trufy engaged, not merely in a surreptitious and questionable manner, '" but in the sight of the sun," and with the approval of her kinsfolk and acquaintances, she is, as it were, born again. She looks out on the world with new eyes, and she soon feels that her relations with the world have changed. Her father feels it hard (hat this precious thing—'bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, that he has been so tender of all these years, that has belonged to him so absolutely—is going toceasetobehis, andbeloiagtoanbtherman, this stranger, who has won his daughter's heart from him. To heir own family, the engaged girl is already a- guest. Her sisters think of her as having a home of her own, and being able to give dances and issue invitations in her own right. Her own girl friends envy or pity her according to circumstancei3, but they feel ia a moment that she has gone over to the enemy. Meo are, from one point of view, in one camp, and women in the other; but everybody feels that it is just.as true that unmarried people and. widows are one great division of humanity, always more or less opposed to the other, the married or betrothed. When a girl becomes engaged, she, as it were, changes sides in a double sense. She is one more woman who has given in her submission to man, and she makes one more roving butterfly who is going to change into a steady working cater* pillar. ,*And the young lady herself —-does she eDJoy this change of front? We believe she does heartily. Girlsin - an engaged state can take a great deal of happiness without appearing to be cloyed by the constant sweetness of the diet. As for the final issue, we may dare to believe that she as well as her Henry looks forward to the altar and the holy estate of matrimony as bringing a richer and most tender joy. And yet we are inclined to think —forgive «3 happy and contented matrons, if we tell the truth, that Oliver Goldsmith, was right when he made Dr. Primrose declare that courtship is generally a happier state than marriage. .At last, after the first few months of companion* ship, the novelty, the romance, the ecstasy wear off. With light baby finp;ers_come heavy cares; and, as a rule, a married couple soon 'get-to feel towards each other—incredible (as it may appear to Henry and Emily at present—very much as two chums at college, or two partners in a trade who are at the same time old and well tried friends. .Some, alas I have not even this placid meed of happiness, and one or two have a better lot. *