I am sure you will agree with me that a marriage between my daughter Alice and your boy would be most imprudent, if not altogether impossible. I take for granted that he cannot look to you for an allowance upon which to support a wife, while I am certainly not in a position to do anything for my daughter; under these circumstances, perhaps the best thing would be for the young people to discontinue meeting for the present.
Were your son of age, I should take a different course with him; as it is, I leave it to you to bring him to reason; should he be so foolish as to persist, I shall make it a point that my daughter understands that she is not to encourage him in his attentions. Counting upon your kind and wise consideration of the matter,
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
Walter Hubbard.
221. From a Mother Announcing her Daughter's Engagement.
T——, May 22, 19—.
My Dear Mrs. Winslow:—
I feel certain you will be pleased to hear that darling Mary is engaged to be married to Mr. Sanford; he is the son of a very old friend of ours, and everything we could wish as a son-in-law. It is delightful to see how happy the young people are in each other's society; he is as devoted to her as she is fond of him. Had it not been so, in spite of our liking the young man so much, I doubt if we should have given our consent, as at present his prospects are not very good, and they will have to wait till next year before thinking of being married: thus you see it is not yet a matter for congratulations, but I did not wish you to hear the news from any one but me.
Believe me, dear Mrs. Winslow, with kind regards from my husband and myself,
Very sincerely yours,
Harriet Sanderson.