d frock; the bloom of the season on her
cheeks, and its fragrance in her breath; making music with sweet
streams in her milk-pail; while her lover at her elbow, or leaning over
the wall, as jocund as a bobolink, tells her of his horses and cows;
his wheat-lands and meadow-lands; his berry-fields; his melon-patch,
and maple-orchard; his nice little rural home, and his pleasant love of
her.

The country wedding also makes a charming picture of one of the
happiest scenes under heaven; and it was determined by the Fabenses
that Fanny's wedding should lack no joy or enjoyment which they had
means to give. The season was never more lovely, and the fruits of the
garden, orchard, and field were never more abundant. The commodious
farm-house had been re-painted, and it looked as well as new; its doors
could open to a goodly company, and a goodly company came before three
o'clock to make merry with them.

Neighbor Nimblet and his wife were the first of the wedding-guests who
entered; and Nancy and her husband entered soon after. Then came Uncle
Walter over the fields, a-foot, with his coat on his arm, in his new
wide-brimmed hat, long Lon'on-brown vest, with gilt buttons and scarlet
back; his white wristbands turned up, and white collar turned down;
enjoying, in the tidiest way, a clean little quid of Cavendish, and
selecting and cooking a story for the feast. And Aunt Huldah came with
him in the neatest cap, the nicest dress, and the brightest gold beads
that any old lady wore. Then came the Teezles; then came the Colwells,
followed soon by their young people. Then came the Wilsons; then came
the widow Flaxman, thinking how sad it would be to sing one of her old
nasal songs alone. Then came Mrs. Troffater and Ruth; and they were
able to offer no satisfactory excuse for Tilly, who had refused all
their pleas to come with them, and taken to the woods without his dog
or gun. Many remarked that they never saw Mrs. Troffater appear so
well before. She wore a brand-new calico frock, of a rich de laine
appearance; she had a nice cap, and handsome amber beads; and though
her cap-border was rather too wide, and plaited too thinly for perfect
taste, and the young people smiled to see it rise and fall with the
wind; she appeared well enough; and no one attended the wedding with a
warmer welcome than she. Then came Seneca Waldron and his wife; and
soon all the guests were there.

The fathers and mothers were gathered into the w