She fell upon David in a perfect tornado of vituperation, and ordered him out of the house.

She was "mighty wrathy," writes David, "and looked at me as savage as a meat-axe." David was naturally amiable, and in the depressing circumstances had no heart to return railing for railing.

He meekly reminded the infuriate woman that she had called him "son-in-law" before he had attempted to call her "mother-in-law," and that he certainly had been guilty of no conduct which should expose him to such treatment.

He soon saw, to his great satisfaction, that the daughter remained faithful to him, and that the meek father was as decidedly on his side as his timid nature would permit him to be.

Though David felt much insulted, he restrained his temper, and, turning from the angry mother, told her daughter that he would come the next Thursday on horseback, leading another horse for her; and that then he would take her to a justice of the peace who lived at the distance of but a few miles from them, where they would be married.