in some form or other. On the other hand, should a young man find his sweetheart greedy of dress and admiration, giddy and heedless, fond of flirting, querulous in temper, and careless of what company she keeps, the sooner he gives up such a connection the better."*

Vows.

The friends of both parties, too, should afford every possible facility for them to become well acquainted with each other before ratifying their If there should be on each side a growing affection and esteem, an increased fondness for each other's society, an apparent adaptability of thought and desire, the hand should be given in token that the heart is not withheld. Let there be honesty in the matter, for God will never bless an engagement from which pure love, disinterested purpose, and transparent rectitude are absent. There should be no selfdeception, and no attempt to deceive others.

Again there should be no undue haste on the part of the young lady's friends to induce a young man to "settle in life" before he knows his own mind or can provide a decent and suitable home.

If there should be the slightest suspicion on either side that the love of the other is of a sordid kind, it should be tested to the utmost. A man or a woman who marries for money or

* "Old Chatty Cheerful."

beauty is like an ignorant person who buys a painting for the sake of the gilded frame.

“When Jack is in love he's no judge of Gill's beauty,
But Gill doesn't mind if Jack sticks to his duty,
For Gill likes the love that is temper'd with toil—
The love which induces the kettle to boil."

Care should be taken that the rosy time of courtship should not be marked by love's decline. Should the flowers begin to fade before love's summer has come, the affection may be regarded truthfully as external, superficial and evanescent. Rather should the image of the dear one become increasingly precious every day.

"Each evening when I close mine eyes,
Thine image then before me flies;
When all around is hush'd and still,
Sweet thoughts of thee my bosom fill.
'Tis then I long for thee!"

The best adornments of a modest female are not expensive dresses and cheap jewellery, but chastity, devotion, simplicity, neatness and elegance. These will most advantageously display the charms of the pure-minded, and will far outweigh in value the preposterous fashions and fantastical draperies, which, while they conceal some few defects of mind and character, will sacrifice to ostentatious finery the mild, the amiable, and the modest virtues by which the female character is so pleasingly adorned.

I

I would remind the reader that there are three steps to the altar. They are a blessed trinity. They mark the progress of the most interesting part of the life journey, like milestones. would have every young couple free to choose or reject until the time for betrothal comes. Then they enter into a bond not only with each other, but with God; and it is neither right nor legal to discard each other afterwards.

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'My love, when once plighted, shall bind me to thee; Until we're united no longer I'm free;

The last rays of manhood and love must depart
Before I can sever that tie from my heart."

In deciding aright at this eventful period of your history, you must not be intoxicated with enthusiasm, nor fascinated by a pretty face. You will require prudence at the helm to steer your craft amid the rocks and breakers which have wrecked so many ere "love's young dream" had faded away.

To sum up all that need be said on this point : Choose the good daughter or son of good parents; see that you are of suitable temperament; look out for soundness of character; do not shut your eyes to religious convictions; and avoid trifling with each other's affections. Let Christ be the Pilot of your barque, and you will reach the haven in safety.

"Stay, little Cupid, oh! tarry awhile,

And let me delight in thy beautiful smile;

Oh! let me survey thy fine eyes softly beaming,

And kiss thy sweet locks which thus loosely are streaming.

*

"Ah! Emma, trust not to that beautiful boy,

Nor seek, fairest maiden, thy peace to destroy, 'Tis Love thou would'st cherish, and soon in thy breast,

He will fix his sharp arrow, and rob thee of rest.

"But Emma's too pleased with a child so endearing, To give to dame Reason one short moment's hearing; With rapture she gazed once again on his charms, And clasped the too dangerous boy in her arms.

"He then bent his bow, and, with dexterous force, Sent an arrow which to her fair breast took its course;

And, laughing, he left her fast bound in his chains, To smile at love's pleasures, and weep at its pains."

*Mary Jane Coultart, in " Orange Blossoms" (Milner & Sowerby, Halifax).

CHAPTER III.

Betrothing.

"Wanted, a hand to hold my own, as down life's vale I glide;

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Wanted, an arm to lean upon, for ever by my side; Wanted, a firm and steady foot, with step secure and free,

To take its straight and onward pace, over Life's path with me.

Wanted, a form erect and high; a head above my own, So much that I might walk beneath its shadow o'er me thrown.

Wanted, an eye, within whose depth mine own might look and see

Uprisings from a guileless heart, o'erflown with love

for me.

Wanted, a lip, whose kindest smile would speak for me alone;

A voice, whose richest melody would breathe affection's tone,

Wanted, a true religious soul, to pious purpose given, With whom mine own might pass along the road that leads to heaven."

-:0:

“There is dew for the floweret, and honey for the bee; And bowers for the wild bird, and love for you and

me.