"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Welcome to Snow Country






“Everybody likes to go their own way to choose their own time and manner of devotion. ” —Jane Austen - so much was accomplished in her 42 short years on earth.

Wikipedia

In December 1802, Austen received her only proposal of marriage. Bigg-Wither proposed and Austen accepted.

As described by Caroline Austen, Jane's niece, and Reginald Bigg-Wither, a descendant, Harris was not attractive—he was a large, plain-looking man who spoke little, stuttered when he did speak, was aggressive in conversation, and almost completely tactless.

However, Austen had known him since both were young and the marriage offered many practical advantages to Austen and her family. He was the heir to extensive family estates located in the area where the sisters had grown up. With these resources, Austen could provide her parents a comfortable old age, give Cassandra a permanent home and, perhaps, assist her brothers in their careers.

By the next morning, Austen realised she had made a mistake and withdrew her acceptance. No contemporary letters or diaries describe how Austen felt about this proposal.

In 1814, Austen wrote a letter to her niece, Fanny Knight, who had asked for advice about a serious relationship, telling her that "having written so much on one side of the question, I shall now turn around & entreat you not to commit yourself farther, & not to think of accepting him unless you really do like him. Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without Affection".

I would say she was a smart gal.

9 comments:

Deb said...

she was one smart lady...

Carol............. said...

Thank you for the wonderful card and reminder....

Your Jane Austin article is a great post! The detriment to Bigg-Wither's person was no doubt the .......... "aggressive in conversation, and almost completely tactless." I think his looks or speech wouldn't have mattered at all. Glad she dumped him! LOL

I believe I would trade "material things" for "healthy emotional things". And I feel very blessed to have a wonderful husband.

^..^Corgidogmama said...

You find the most interesting facts about people. Always fun to read. Love your holiday decor!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

What an interesting post. I would give up all material things for the love of a good man. I am blessed with a great man.

Have a super day filled with blessings!!!

Joyce said...

Thanks for your kind words in my comment but it was my husbands trip to the other day but all is well. I think Jane was one smart cookie with her advice.
Joyce

ocmist said...

What a wonderful post... so very interesting to see into a small portion of one of my favorite authors.

Truly a great piece of adivce, too! I waited on the Lord, and He gave me a wonderful match!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Shs was smart! And very brave -- because it took a lot more courage back then to choose to remain single. One of my favorite authors.

I enjoyed the video too.

Barbara Jean said...

So glad i gave you some ideas with my "yuck' post. =0))

Let's see what you do with the 'stuff' now.

blessings

barbara jean

betty said...

that was such a good video; we really have it so well even though a lot of times we think we don't but compared to the rest of the world, we in America truly are blessed

I never read much of Jane Austen but for my online book club I'm reading Secret Memories of Jane Austen (or something like that, I haven't started the book yet, but soon) and then afterwards I plan to read some of her books; she does seem to have been a wise woman

betty