We do not ask, What is right and best for us?
but, What will folks say of it?
We have no individuality, no self-poised strength, no sense of freedom.

We are conscious always of the gaze of the many-eyed tyrant.
We propitiate him with precious offerings; we burn incense perpetually to Moloch, and pass through his fire the sacred first-born of our hearts.

How few dare to seek their own happiness by the lights which God has given them, or have strength to defy the false pride and the prejudice of the world and stand fast in the liberty of Christians! Can anything be more pitiable than the sight of so many, who should be the choosers and creators under God of their own spheres of utility and happiness, self-degraded into mere slaves of propriety and custom, their true natures undeveloped, their hearts cramped and shut up, each afraid of his neighbor and his neighbor of him, living a life of unreality, deceiving and being deceived, and forever walking in a vain show?
Here, now, we have just left a married couple who are happy because they have taken counsel of their honest affections rather than of the opinions of the multitude, and have dared to be true to themselves in defiance of impertinent gossip." "You speak of the young farmer Barnet and his wife, I suppose ?" said I.
"Yes.

I will give their case as an illustration.

Julia Atkins was the daughter of Ensign Atkins, who lived on the mill-road, just above Deacon Warner's.