text_original: Besides, long engagements are apt to dwindle. I have seen such engage  ments—entered on solemnly like ours to night— shrink to six months, or less. Why should one linger on the threshold of a new life, if one knows it is going to be completely happy
text_transcription: BESIDES LONG ENGAGEMENTS ARE APT TO DWINDLE I HAVE SEEN SUCH ENGAGEMENTS ENTERED ON SOLEMNLY LIKE OURS TO NIGHT SHRINK TO SIX MONTHS OR LESS WHY SHOULD ONE LINGER ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW LIFE IF ONE KNOWS IT IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY HAPPY
phonemes: bᵻsˈaɪdz, lˈɔŋ ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒmənts ɑːɹ ˈæpt tə dwˈɪndəl. aɪ hæv sˈiːn sˈʌtʃ ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒ mˈɛnts—ˈɛntɚd ˌɔn sˈɑːləmli lˈaɪk aʊɚz tə nˈaɪt— ʃɹˈɪŋk tə sˈɪks mˈʌnθs, ɔːɹ lˈɛs. wˌaɪ ʃˌʊd wˈʌn lˈɪŋɡɚɹ ɔnðə θɹˈɛʃoʊld əvə nˈuː lˈaɪf, ɪf wˈʌn nˈoʊz ɪɾ ɪz ɡˌoʊɪŋ təbi kəmplˈiːtli hˈæpi