r 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 a