adaptations for marriage, and my own mind is fully
made up, a final decision now becomes necessary.

"What I have learned of and from you confirms that high
opinion of you which prompted my selection of you, and
inspires a desire to consummate it. Your pleasing manner and
mode of saying and doing things; your intelligence, taste,
prudence, kindness, and many other excellencies, inspire my
highest admiration.

"Will you let me love what I so much admire?

"But my affections are sacred. I can bestow them only on one
who _reciprocates_ them; will bestow them upon you, if you
will bestow yours on me; not otherwise; for only _mutual_
love can render either happy. I can and will love you alone,
with all my heart, provided you can and will love only me,
with all of yours. Do you accord me this privilege, on this
condition, for life, forever? I crave to make you my wife;
to live with and for you, and proffer you my whole being,
with honest, assiduous toil, fidelity to business, what
talents I possess, and all I can do to contribute to your
creature comforts. Do you accord me this privilege, on this
condition? May I enshrine you as queen of my life?

"Say wherein you find me faulty, or capable of improvement
in your eyes, and I will do my utmost, consistently with my
conscience, to render myself worthy and acceptable to you.

"I wish some things were different in you--that you had
better health, arose earlier, were less impulsive, knew more
about keeping house, etc.; yet these minor matters sink into
insignificance in comparison with your many excellences, and
especially that whole-souled affection obviously inherent in
you.

"Deliberate fully, for this is a life affair, and if, in
order to decide judiciously, you require to know more of me,
ask me, or ---- and ----. Please reply as soon as you can
well decide.

"Decline unless you accept cordially, and can love me truly
and wholly; but if you can and will reciprocate my proffered
affection, say yes, and indicate your own time and mode of
our marriage. Meanwhile, with the highest regards, I am, and
hope ever to remain,

"Yours truly,

"A.B."

A true woman could give a better answer than the following, which does
not claim to be a model. It is hardly time yet for a gu