neral subjects; not
appearing to expect that every one who pays you the ordinary
courtesies of society is going to fall in love with you. This mode of
behavior, which is more common with those who are vain of their beauty
than with others, frequently leads to such young women being more
neglected than their less pretending sisters; for prudent young men,
who are impressed with the necessity of a right decision in the
all-important step of marriage, instinctively shrink from those who
seem unwilling to give them a fair opportunity of judging whether
their hearts and minds are as attractive as their persons.

You may innocently admire many a young man for the noble qualities God
has bestowed upon him, without at all entertaining the idea either
that he would make you happy as his wife, or you him as your husband.
Thank God we are constituted of such different temperaments that all
may find suitable partners without clashing with each other's tastes,
if they will only be content to watch and wait.

It is the part of a young man to _watch_, to be actively desirous of
meeting with a suitable partner. In doing this, his first
consideration should be to seek for such a one as he can make happy;
not to look primarily for beauty, fortune, wit, or accomplishments--things
all very good in themselves, but by no means constituting the
essentials of happiness. If he is influenced by pure and simple
motives, he will not find, or expect to find, more than one that can
satisfy his desire, and he will not be in much danger of exciting the
envy or the rivalry of his companions.

On the other hand, it is becoming in a young woman to

WAIT PATIENTLY

till, from the assiduous and respectful attentions of a young man, she
can have no doubt that he is in earnest, when, and not before, she may
freely give him her company, and with every expectation of a happy
result. Be assured that no sensible young man is ever attracted by a
young woman whom he sees on the lookout for a lover; he is more likely
to think meanly of her, and to avoid her society.

It may, however, happen that a young man makes the offer before the
young woman knows enough of him for it to be right for her to accept
it, and before he, on his part, ought to take the step. In such case
it would be well for her, even supposing she is inclined to like him,
to tell him that he has taken her by surprise, and that she cannot
think of entering on so i