Mrs. Bullfrog

           Itmakesmemelancholytoseehowlikefoolssomeverysensiblepeopleactinthematterofchoosingwives.Theyperplextheirjudgmentsbyamostundueattentiontolittlenicetiesofpersonalappearance,habits,disposition,andothertrifleswhichconcernnobodybuttheladyherself.Anunhappygentleman,resolvingtowednothingshortofperfection,keepshisheartandhandtillbothgetsooldandwitheredthatnotolerablewomanwillacceptthem.Nowthisistheveryheightofabsurdity.AkindProvidencehassoskilfullyadaptedsextosexandthemassofindividualstoeachother,that,withcertainobviousexceptions,anymaleandfemalemaybemoderatelyhappyinthemarriedstate.Thetrueruleistoascertainthatthematchisfundamentallyagoodone,andthentotakeitforgrantedthatallminorobjections,shouldtherebesuch,willvanish,ifyouletthemalone.Onlyputyourselfbeyondhazardastotherealbasisofmatrimonialbliss,anditisscarcelytobeimaginedwhatmiracles,inthewayofrecognizingsmallerincongruities,connubiallovewilleffect.

           FormyownpartIfreelyconfessthat,inmybachelorship,Iwaspreciselysuchanover-curioussimpletonasInowadvisethereadernottobe.Myearlyhabitshadgiftedmewithafemininesensibilityandtooexquisiterefinement.Iwastheaccomplishedgraduateofadrygoodsstore,where,bydintofministeringtothewhimsoffineladies,andsuitingsilkenhosetodelicatelimbs,andhandlingsatins,ribbons,chintzescalicoes,tapes,gauze,andcambricneedles,Igrewupaveryladylikesortofagentleman.