ds
that whistled over those broad hilltops where the road lay seemed to
pierce their very bones, and they were heartily glad to draw up, by
twelve o'clock, at the door of the parsonage and be set before a
blazing fire, and revived with sundry mugs of foaming and steaming
flip, made potent with a touch of old peach brandy; for in those
ancient days, even in parsonages, the hot poker knew its office and
sideboards were not in vain.

There was food, also, for the exhausted guests, though the refection
was slight and served informally in the kitchen corner, for the
ceremonial Thanksgiving dinner was to be deferred till after the
wedding. And as soon as all were warmed and refreshed they were
ushered into the great parlour, where a Turkey carpet, amber satin
curtains, spider-legged chairs and tables, and a vast carved sofa,
cushioned also with amber, made a regal and luxurious show in the eyes
of our rustic observers.

But when Sylvy came in with the parson, who could look at furniture?
Madam Everett had lavished her taste and her money on the lovely
creature as if she were her own daughter, for she was almost as dear
to that tender, childless soul. The girl's lustrous gold-brown hair
was dressed high upon her head in soft puffs and glittering curls, and
a filmy thread-lace scarf pinned across it with pearl-headed pins. Her
white satin petticoat showed its rich lustre under a lutestring gown
of palest rose brocaded with silver sprigs and looped with silver
ribbon and pink satin roses. Costly lace clung about her neck and
arms, long kid gloves covered her little hands and wrists and met the
delicate sleeve ruffles, and about her white throat a great pink topaz
clasped a single string of pearls. Hannah could scarce believe her
eyes. Was this her Sylvy?--she who even threw Madam Everett, with her
velvet dress, powdered hair, and Mechlin laces, quite into the
background!

"I did not like it, Mammy dear," whispered Sylvy, as she clung round
her astonished mother's neck. "I wanted a muslin gown; but madam had
laid this by long ago, and I could not thwart or grieve her, she is so
very good to me."

"No more you could, Sylvy. The gown is amazing fine, to be sure; but
as long as my Sylvy's inside of it I won't gainsay the gown. It ain't
a speck too pretty for the wearer, dear." And Hannah gave her another
hug. The rest scarce dared to touch that fair face, except Dolly, who
threw her arms about her beautiful sister, with little