married according
to the laws of God and the Commonwealth: therefore what God hath thus
joined together let no man put asunder."

When these words had been solemnly spoken the widow Margaret struck her
ancient harpsichord in an old familiar tune of plaintive tenderness, and
the young bridegroom holding Miriam's hand in an affectionate clasp,
answered the music with a little hymn or carol, often used before among
the Peabodys on a like occasion:

Entreat me not--I ne'er will leave thee,
Ne'er loose this hand in bower or hall;
This heart, this heart shall ne'er deceive thee,
This voice shall answer ever to thy call.

To which Miriam, after a brief pause of hesitation, in that tone of
chanting lament familiar to her, answered--

Thy God is mine, where'er thou rovest,
Where'er thou dwellest there too will I dwell;
In the same grave shall she thou lovest
Lie down with him she loves so well.

Like a cheerful voice answering to these, and wishing, out of the
mysterious darkness of night, all happiness and prosperity to the young
couple, the silver call of Chanticleer arose without, renewed and
renewed again, as if he could never tire of announcing the happy union
to all the country round.

And now enjoyment was at its height among the Peabodys, helped by
Plenty, who, with Mopsey for chief assistant, hurried in, with plates of
shining pippins, baskets of nuts, brown jugs of new cider of home-made
vintage; Mrs. Carrack, who had selected the simplest garment in her
wardrobe, moving about in aid of black Mopsey, tendering refreshment to
her old father first, and Mrs. Jane Peabody insisting on being allowed
to distribute the walnuts with her own hand.

The children, never at rest for a moment, frisked to and fro, like so
many merry dolphins, disporting in the unaccustomed candle-light, to
which they were commonly strangers. They were listened to in all their
childish prattle kindly, by every one, indulged in all their little
foolish ways, as if the grown-up Peabodys for this night at least,
believed that they were indeed little citizens of the kingdom of heaven,
straying about this wicked world on parole. Uncle Oliver, once,
spreading his great Declaration-of-Independence pocket-handkerchief on
his knees, attempted to put them to the question as to their learning.
They all recognised Dr. Franklin, with his spectacles thrown up on his
brow, among the signers, but denying all knowledg