I cared for was to have her daughter on my side, which I know'd was the
case then. But how soon some other fellow might knock my nose out of
joint again, I couldn't tell. Her mother declared I shouldn't have her.
But I knowed I should, if somebody else didn't get her before Thursday."

The all-important wedding-day soon came David was resolved to crush out
all opposition and consummate the momentous affair with very
considerable splendor. He therefore rode to the cabin with a very
imposing retinue. Mounted proudly upon his own horse, and leading a
borrowed steed, with a blanket saddle, for his bride, and accompanied
by his elder brother and wife and a younger brother and sister, each on
horseback, he "cut out to her father's house to get her."

When this cavalcade of six horses had arrived within about two miles of
the Irishman's cabin, quite a large party was found assembled from the
log huts scattered several miles around. David, kind-hearted, generous,
obliging, was very popular with his neighbors. They had heard of the
approaching nuptials of the brave boy of but eighteen years, and of the
wrath of the brawling, ill-tempered mother. They anticipated a scene,
and wished to render David the support of their presence and sympathy.
This large party, some on foot and some on horseback, proceeded
together to the Irishman's cabin. The old man met them with smiles,
whiskey bottle in hand, ready to offer them all a drink. The wife,
however, was obdurate as ever. She stood at the cabin door, her eyes
flashing fire, and quite bewildered to decide in what way to attempt to
repel and drive off her foe.

She expected that the boy would come alone, and that, with her
all-potent tongue, she would so fiercely assail him and so frighten her
young girl as still to prevent the marriage. But here was quite an army
of the neighbors, from miles around, assembled. They were all evidently
the friends of David. Every eye was fixed upon her. Every ear was
listening to hear what she would say. Every tongue was itching to cry
out shame to her opposition, and to overwhelm her with reproaches. For
once the termagant found herself baffled, and at her wits' end.

The etiquette of courts and cabins are quite different. David paid no
attention to the mother, but riding up to the door of the log house,
leading the horse for his bride, he shouted to her to come out. The
girl had enjoyed no opportunity to pay any attention to her bridal
trousseau. Bu