seeks a woman for what she has, rather than for what she is? What would be thought if the officiating minister were to ask such a man and woman to say-"Romeo, wilt thou have this delicate constitution, this bundle of silks and satins, this crock of gold, for thy wedded wife ?" "I will." "Juliet, wilt thou have this false Pretence, this profligate in broadcloth, this unpaid tailor's bill, for thy wedded husband?" "I will." The pair are then pronounced man and wife. And what is the result? A brief career of dissipation, a splendid misery, a reduction to poverty, domestic dissension, separation, and finally a divorce. This may be somewhat severe, but it is not entirely unjust, neither is it wholly undeserved.

It was such a case, no doubt, which led a writer in a certain paper to relate the case of a beautiful young lady, who had become blind, but who recovered her sight after marriage, to add-"It is no uncommon thing for people's eyes to be opened by matrimony." See to it that yours are opened before-yes, before it is too late-yea, before you even go so far as to say to any young woman—

"I've something sweet to tell you,
But the secret you must keep;
And remember, if it isn't night,
I am talking in my sleep-
For I know I am but dreaming
When I think your love is mine;
And I know they are but seeming,

All the hopes that round me shine."

Now it is no use disguising the fact that COURTING is often a series of petty deceptions on both sides, from its beginning to its close-cach always trying to appear to the best advantage-putting, as it is said, the best goods in the front window-they put on their best clothes, their best behaviour, the best manners, the sunniest smiles, the most pleasant faces, the kindest acts, the most loving words, until both are prepared under the magic spell to say

"If thou wilt be mine, the treasures of air,
Of earth and sea shall lie at thy feet;
Whatever thy fancy's eye looks fair,
Or in hope's sweet music is most sweet,

Shall be ours, if thou wilt be mine, love."
"Bright flowers shall bloom where'er we rove,
A voice divine shall talk in each stream,
The stars shall look like worlds of love,

And this earth be all one beautiful dream

In our eyes, if thou wilt be mine, love!"

With what a bound of joy does the young woman impart the knowledge to her dear friend that "he has proposed!" and how anxiously she is questioned! When did he propose? Where did he propose? How did he propose? What did he say? How did he say it? How did he go about it? To all such very pressing inquiries it is not needful to reply. They are too serious to be trifled with, too sacred for exposure to the common gaze. And yet it is worth while for all who seriously think of the importance of the step to ask, "Is it not proper to consider well beforehand when, where, and how to propose ?" Shakspeare well illustrates the conflicting evidence of this state

"Say that she rail; why, then I'll tell her plain

She sings as sweetly as a nightingale.

Say that she frown; I'll say she looks as clear
As morning roses newly washed with dew.
Say she be mute, and will not speak a word;
Then I'll commend her volubility,
And say-she uttereth piercing eloquence.
If she do frown, 'tis not in hate of you,
But rather to beget more love in you.
If she do chide, 'tis not to have you gone;
For why, the fools are mad if left alone.
Take no repulse, whatever she doth say-

For get you gone she doth not mean away."

Courtship and marriage are perhaps spoken of more frivolously, and entered upon more carelessly and wantonly, than any other path of life, and yet how serious are the issues at stake! A proper union is not merely the coming together of two creatures, but of two spirits, and unless there is harmony between them, discord is sure to follow.

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Now some one has said, "Get married-happily if you can, but whatever you do, get married." With such advice we have no sympathy. We rather feel inclined to believe that the clergyman was nearer the mark who is reported as having used the following introduction to the administration of the marriage rite:-" Marriage, my friends, is a blessing to a few, a curse to many, and an uncertainty to all-John, will you venture?" From these considerations there appears, therefore, to be a necessity for you carefully to consider six things in the choice of a companion for life:I.-Do not begin too soon. If you were taking a walk round a garden, with permission from the owner to pluck any one flower, it is not very likely you would pluck the first which struck your fancy, or pleased your eye. No; you would say, "I will look round first and see what there is before I finally decide, for fear I should see something I should like better." In like manner, be on your guardtake things a little more quietly. Do not "rush in where angels fear to tread." Remember there are as fine fish in the sea as any that have yet been caught, and by waiting you will have time and opportunity for comparison. Is it not amazing with what readiness-yea, almost thoughtlessness-many young men and women trust the whole of their happiness to the keeping of those of whom they know comparatively nothing, except that they have persevered in their attentions and been very full of compliments of a very doubtful character? How many have proved the truth of Dean Swift's recipe for courtship:

"Two or three dears and two or three sweets,
Two or three balls or two or three treats,
Two or three serenades given as a lure,
Two or three oaths (how much they endure!)
Two or three messages sent in one day,
Two or three times led out from the play,
Two or three tickets for two or three times,
Two or three love-letters writ all in rhymes;
Two or three months keeping strict to these rules
Can never fail making a couple of fools."

Surely every one will see how desirable it would be to avoid falling into such a snare, by carefully thinking beforehand, and using every endeavour to ascertain whether it is wise to allow the feelings to govern the judgment, instead of letting the judgment control the feelings. To do this, however, it is needful to begin at a point which thousands overlook, and the consequence is that many serious mistakes are made. We often hear it said that "marriages are made in heaven," but it is to be feared that thousands never look to Heaven to be directed in their choice of partners, and it is no wonder that they fail to secure the needful guidance in this the most important step in life. Hence it is quite true, as Dr. Johnson remarks, "What can be expected but disappointment and repentance from a choice made in the immaturity of youth, in the ardour of desire, without judgment, without foresight, without inquiry after conformity of opinions, similarity of manners, rectitude of judgment, or purity of sentiment? Such is the common process of marriage. A youth and maiden meeting by chance, or brought together by artifice, exchange glances, reciprocate civilities, go home, and dream of one another. Having little to divert attention or diversify thought, they find themselves uneasy when they are apart, and therefore conclude that they shall be happy together. They marry, and discover what nothing but voluntary blindness before had concealed; they wear out life in altercations, and charge Nature with cruelty." Pause and reflect ere you make your selection. As a quaint writer says-"All these properties are not spied at three or four connings, for hypocrisy is spun with a fine thread, and none are deceived so often as lovers. He which will know all his wife's qualities before he be married to her, must see her eating, and walking, and working, and playing, and talking, and laughing, and chiding, or else he shall have less with her than he looked for, or more than he wished for."

II.--Beware of hasty entanglements. Of all things in the

world where people should be ready to take time to consider, this is certainly one of the most important. Remember it is a step for life. On this we may safely say that

"Knowledge is modest, cautious, and pure,
Ignorance boastful, conceited, and sure."

We remember somewhere to have read a story of a young man who was hesitating in his choice between two young ladies, by both of whom he was beloved. A decision, however, was brought about by means of a rose. It happened one day, as all three were wandering in the garden, that one of the girls, in attempting to pluck a new-blown rose, wounded her finger with a thorn. It bled freely; and, applying the petals of a white rose to the wound, she said, smiling, “I am a second Venus: I have dyed the white rose red." Just after she had spoken they heard a scream, and fearing the other lady, who loitered behind, had met with an accident, hastened back to assist her. The fair one's scream had been called forth by no worse an accident than had befallen her companion. But she had acted very differently, for she had angrily thrown away the offending flower, and made such fretful lamentation over her wounded finger, that the young man, after a little reflection, resolved on a speedy union with the least handsome but more amiable of the two friends. Happy would it be for many a woman did she know by what seeming trifles the affections of those whom she loves may be confirmed or alienated for ever.

III.-Look out in the right way. The best of books says, "Be not unequally yoked together." Nor need we feel surprised at this; for how can two walk together except they are agreed? The wisest Teacher who ever walked on earth was Jesus Christ, and among the sayings He uttered are these:"Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things shall be added thereto." Happy would it have been for our world if this had been the startingpoint of all the actions of men and women, and especially so in this matter of arrangement for future wedded life.