Behold, my Daughter, the Lord maketh a man--but the _wife_ maketh an
_husband_.
For Man is but the raw material whereon a woman putteth the _finishing
touches_.
Yea, and whatsoever pattern of husband thou selectest, thou shalt find
him like unto a shop-made garment, which must be trimmed over and cut
down, and ironed out, and built up to fit the matrimonial situation.
Verily, the best of husbands hath many raw edges, and many unnecessary
pleats in his temper, and many wrinkles in his disposition, which must
be removed.
Lo, I charge thee, be wary in thy choice. For, many shall call, but few
shall propose. And, a wise damsel shall with difficulty select that
which fitteth her disposition and matcheth her tastes--even that which
shall not pinch upon the bank account, neither stretch upon the truth,
neither shrink nor run nor fade.
At the second-hand counter thou shalt find many widowers, which have
been remodelled by another hand. And these are easy to acquire. Yet an
hand-me-down may have been spoiled in the making, and become frayed at
the edges of the temper, and shiny on the seamy-side.
But a _bachelor_ who hath passed forty is a _remnant_; and there is no
good material left in him. His sentiments are moth-eaten and his tender
speeches shop-worn. His manners shall require much basting and his
morals many patches. The gloss hath been rubbed off his illusions and
the color hath gone out of his emotions. Yet, a clever damsel shall,
peradventure, take one of these and remodel him to seem as new.
For the happiest wife is not she that getteth the best husband, but
she that maketh the best of that which she getteth. Verily, verily, an
husband is a _work of art_ which must be executed by hand; for there is
no factory which turneth them out to order.