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in her the elements were so harmoniously blended, that all the Christian graces were more natural and easy to her. But, in all essential principles, they were strictly united. The deep under currents of their souls seemed to flow from kindred sources, and mingle together in harmony. Selmar's nature led him to commit many faults, but he was ever ready to confess and amend them.

Fanny, who, by her wit, her beauty, and her many nameless attractions, had captivated Mr. Roberts, was so made up of faults and excellences was so whimsical so apt to

do wrong
so sure to be sorry for it
unkind in her actions at one time

SO

so mag

nanimous at another so without a principle of right, and yet so full of all good things by nature, that one might as well attempt to catch and analyze a jack o' lantern as to describe her. She was, however, the only being in the world who had succeeded in destroying Mr. Roberts' self-control, and causing his prudence to be questioned.

As soon as a house could be furnished, and all the fashionable paraphernalia for a bride provided, Fanny and Mr. Roberts were married.

Next to the barbarity of the pomp and cir

cumstance of funerals, comes that of the formalities and shows at weddings. It will be said by some, "Is it not a fit time for a festival, when two loving hearts are united?" Surely, if it be a heart-felt festival; but have our wedding visits and wedding parties this character? It is dress-dress; there is no heart in it. The bride and bridegroom, if they really love each other, cannot be interested in such empty show. Life has a new and a more deep reality to them. They can sympathize only in what is simple and

true.

All the world had assembled to pay their compliments to the new-married couple. Edward Selmar was standing by Amy Weston: he looked dejected. "If we are ever married, Amy,” he said to her, "we will not have such a foolish parade as this. How intolerable it must be to Roberts and Fanny! The tears are hardly dry upon poor Fanny's cheek, which the ceremony called forth. She looks like a victim. I think there is more sense in doing as a couple did, who came into a clergyman's house where I was visiting the other evening. The man said, as he entered, 'We have been calculating, sir, a good while, to be married; and we thought,

as we were going by this evening, we would just stop in, and be made man and wife.' "

"I cannot say," replied Amy, "that I should fancy that way, though I do not like this. We must not do as Dr. used

to say some folks did-stand so upright as to bend backwards."

"Do, Amy, look at Roberts, among all those fashionables; he looks in a sort of There goes Mrs. Lovell, to congratu

maze.

late him.

How patronizing she looks! How foolish he appears. She is making much of him. Deliver me from being patronized by her!"

"Never fear, till you ride in your own coach again. She patronizes no one who goes afoot, or who is not distinguished in some way or other. The sanction of public opinion is necessary to secure her attentions." "I detest such a character."

"It deserves more to be pitied. She shows that she has a very low estimate of the value of her own opinion that she does not judge for herself. She does not value her own honest thought even as much as we value it. She is, in the main, kind-hearted, and would be good, if she only had the courage to be SO."

"It is all worldly-mindedness and ambition. I am sick of it. How much longer do you mean to stay, Amy?"

"Do not you remain any longer, if you wish to go, Edward." Amy spoke very kindly, but Edward's mind was out of tune.

"It is not so easy," he replied, "for me to leave you as you seem to suppose, Amy."

"You mistook me, Edward. You know that, as Fanny's intimate friend, people would think it very strange, if I were to go away

now."

"People would think!

These are the magic words that govern the fashionable world."

66

"They do not, you know, govern me, Edward. If you really wish me to go home now, I will go; for, though I should otherwise prefer to remain, that is a trifle; while giving you pain can never be a trifle.”

"No, no, Amy; I am not so bad as that. I will stay, and try to be agreeable. Let the world govern whom it may, I am contented to be governed by you."

"But I have no desire to take upon me such an office."

"That is the very reason why I wish you to hold it," replied Edward.

"Come, come," said a brisk-looking lady, who just then joined them; "this is as bad

as for married people to be in company; it is not fair.

talking together Tell me if you

have heard of the affair that took place at Mrs. Longman's party.”

"No," was the answer.

--

"O, I am glad of it. It is a capital story, and I will tell you all about it. Mrs. Longman had a large party of young people, and, in order to entertain her company, made a sort of lottery, in which every one present was offered a ticket· the number of each ticket answering to that of one of the couplets contained in two baskets, one for the ladies, and the other for the gentlemen. When Mr. Sharp's number was called, what do you think he drew? You know he is the very genius of dullness.

'You are too tedious- too prosing-too sleepy;
What lady could fancy Sir Samuel Sheepy?'

Then little Miss Black was called up, a miniature belle, not more than sixteen. (You know she looks like a child.) She had these lines for her portion of the amusement:

'If so soon, little miss, for a husband you sigh,
A gingerbread one I advise you to buy.'

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