My head swam, and when I come to I was lyin' on the broad stair." "Are they to be married soon ?" asked Mrs.Mason, and Mrs.Perkins answered, "Of course.

Was there ever an old fool of a widower who wasn't in a hurry?
Next Thursday is the day sot, and I've come to invite you, and see if you'd lend me your spoons and dishes, and them little towels you use on the table, and your _astor_ lamps, and some flowers if there's any fit, and let Judy come over to help about cookin' the turkey and sperrib!" Mrs.Mason promised the loan of all these things, and then the widow arose to go.

Mary, who accompanied her to the door, could not help asking whether Mr.Parker had finally bought her red heifer.
The calico sun-bonnet trembled, and the little gray eyes flashed indignantly as she said, "That man never wanted my red heifer a bit more than he wanted me!" True to her promise, Mrs.Mason the next Thursday sent Judith over to the cottage with her "spoons, dishes, little towels, and _astor_ lamp," while she herself carried over the best and fairest flowers which had escaped the frosts of autumn.

Mary was chosen to dress the bride, who, spite of her red hair, would have looked quite well, had her skirt been a trifle longer and wider.

Mrs.Perkins had insisted that five breadths of silk was sufficient, consequently Sally Ann looked as Sal Furbush said, "not wholly unlike a long tallow candle, with a red wick." Mrs.Perkins, who flourished in a lace cap and scarlet ribbons, greeted her son-in-law with a burst of tears, saying she little thought when they were young that she should ever be his mother! For the sake of peace Mr.Parker had invited Miss Grundy to be present at the wedding, but as this was the first intimation that Miss Grundy had received of the matter, she fell into a violent fit of anger, bidding him to "go to grass with his invitations," and adding very emphatically, that "she'd have him to know she never yet saw the day when she'd marry _him_, or any other living man." Mr.Parker of course couldn't dispute her, so he turned away, wondering within himself "what made _wimmen_ so queer!" The day following the wedding, the bride went to her new home, where she was received by Miss Grundy with a grunt which was probably intended for a "how d'ye do." Uncle Peter expressed his pleasure at making the acquaintance of one more of the "fair sect," but hoped that "estimable lady her mother, wouldn't feel like visiting her often, as mothers were very apt to make mischief." Sally Furbush was the only cool and collected one present, and she did the honors of the house so gracefully and well, that but for the wildness of her eyes and an occasional whispering to herself, the bride would never have suspected her of insanity..