Taking up the book in a lending library a friend read aloud the title to a lady who accompanied her--"How to be Happy though Married." _Lady_: "Oh, bother the happiness; does it tell how to be married?" I hope that I may be pardoned if I cannot always do this. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Page HOW TO BE HAPPY _THOUGH_ MARRIED 1 CHAPTER II. TO BE OR NOT TO BE--MARRIED? 9 CHAPTER III. MARRIAGE-MADE MEN 20 CHAPTER IV. THE CHOICE OF A WIFE 33 CHAPTER V. THE CHOICE OF A HUSBAND 45 CHAPTER VI. ON MAKING THE BEST OF A BAD MATRIMONIAL BARGAIN 52 CHAPTER VII. MARRIAGE CONSIDERED AS A DISCIPLINE OF CHARACTER 65 CHAPTER VIII. BEING MARRIED 71 CHAPTER IX. HONEYMOONING 80 CHAPTER X. MARRIAGE VOWS 87 CHAPTER XI. "DRIVE GENTLY OVER THE STONES!" 101 CHAPTER XII. FURNISHING 113 CHAPTER XIII. MARRIED PEOPLE'S MONEY 119 CHAPTER XIV. THE MANAGEMENT OF SERVANTS 129 CHAPTER XV. PREPARATION FOR PARENTHOOD 140 CHAPTER XVI. "WHAT IS THE USE OF A CHILD?" 146 CHAPTER XVII. THE EDUCATION OF PARENTS 155 CHAPTER XVIII. WANTED!--MOTHERS 162 CHAPTER XIX. "NURSING FATHERS" 172 CHAPTER XX. POLITENESS AT HOME 184 CHAPTER XXI. SUNSHINE 192 CHAPTER XXII. THEY HAD A FEW WORDS 201 CHAPTER XXIII. PULLING TOGETHER 211 CHAPTER XXIV. NETS AND CAGES 221 CHAPTER XXV. HUSBANDS HAVE DUTIES TOO 235 CHAPTER XXVI. THE HEALTH OF THE FAMILY 244 CHAPTER XXVII. LOVE SURVIVING MARRIAGE 254 CHAPTER XXVIII. "HE WILL NOT SEPARATE US, WE HAVE BEEN SO HAPPY" 260 CHAPTER I. HOW TO BE HAPPY _THOUGH_ MARRIED. "How delicious is the winning Of a kiss at love's beginning, When two mutual hearts are sighing For the knot there's no untying!"--_T. Campbell._ "Deceive not thyself by over-expecting happiness in the married state. Look not therein for contentment greater than God will give, or a creature in this world can receive, namely, to be free from all inconveniences. Marriage is not like the hill Olympus, wholly clear, without clouds."--_Fuller._