"Yes, Lizzie got married yesterday," Lizzie's mother said proudly. "Her Pa says thirteen's pretty young, but she's got her a good man and I say it's better to settle down young. I was married young myself."
Laura looked at Lena, and Lena looked at her. On the way back to camp they did not say anything for some time. Then both spoke at once.
"She was only a little older than I am," said Laura, and Lena said, "I'm a year older than she was."
They looked at each other again, an almost scared look. Then Lena tossed her curly black head. "She's a silly! Now she can't ever have any more good times."
Laura said soberly, "No, she can't play any more now."
~Laura Ingalls Wilder in By the Shores of Silver Lake
Is it selfish of me to say I'm not ready to marry off my daughters?
We're still having too much fun...
We need more time...later is good...
5 comments:
I don't think that's selfish... My daughter is only 5 and already I find myself hoping she won't be in a hurry to get married when she's older!! My mother was the same - she wanted to hang on to her daughters as long as possible... For her, she only saw two of four daughters leave home, then the Lord took her Home, so she never had to worry about an empty nest!! :)
Girls in Laura's day were usually ready to get married by thirteen, fourteen, (etc)
I guess that show's how much the world has slacked in the area of a homemaker.
What a blessing to have parents that don't!
God Bless.
In Christ Alone,
Kelsey
Yes - I think Kelsey's absolutely right. The age of 13 in Laura's time was a much more "mature" age 13 than most of today's 13 year old girls.
Oh your blog is so much what we are about! So happy to meet you~
Ha! I'm eighteen, and I still don't feel ready for marriage. And I'm not all that bad of a homemaker, either...
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