A Queer Mistake [pp. 407-418]

A QUEER MISTAKE.
necks before they were married. Rettie to hope for in the other match? They
was very shy and quiet about her new had already upset a boat, been caught
happiness. It was really a part of her in two or three thunder-showers, and
daily plan, I thought, never to be left had a runaway when they were out drivalone with her grave young wooer. It ing; from all which perils they had eswas quite as often my merry Rannie caped unharmed, to be sure, but where
who tripped gaily down the walk to meet was there any guarantee for future unhim when he came, or whose blithe little failing good luck? I could only "wash
laugh came lilting up from under the my hands in innocency"- the match
honeysuckle when the young parson was was none of my making - and trust
lingering over his good - night. But al- Providence. I tried to restrain, to warn,
most always our lovers went and came to counsel. Nobody will ever know how
together, and the wooing went on in faithfully I labored to sober and improve
quadrille fashion. my Rannie, but she was Rannie still.
And then nothing would do but the At first when I began to mildly warn
weddings must come off directly. It her of the risks she took in marrying so
was of no use to object or expostulate. gay and thoughtless a young manTo be sure, the girls were not going to "just as feather-headed as yourself, my
really vex and disobey their darling old dear" - she gazed at me with roundsisters-0, by no manner of means! eyed wonder (that was always one of her
But when ardent young lovers are on ways), then she laughed until I made
one end of the scales and darling old up my mind she was hysterical (that was
sisters on the other, we all know which another of her tricks and manners), and
side has to go up. So the wedding-day after that, whenever I cautiously and
was set for the middle of September. gravely approached the subject, she
Meanwhile, the Reverend Mr.Wilson re- drew down the corners of her pretty
ceived and accepted a call from a large mouth and looked so demure and wise
and critical church in one of our New that I was completely at a loss to know
England towns, where was his cousin whether my preaching was to edification
Ned's home. or not.
Those were very busy days when we And so the wedding-day came-a
made our girls ready for their weddings, golden, perfect day. The double wed and rather sorrowful ones, though the ding was to be solemnized in the church.
young people's evident satisfaction and Ned's father and mother arrived the
happiness were somewhat contagious. evening before, and seemed entirely
When Rachel and I were alone we shook pleased with their son's proceedings.
our heads mournfully. We knew just "Anything to steady Ned," said his
how lonely our nest would be when our doting mother, in reply to my deprecat birds were flown; and, alas! we could ing way of speaking about the whole af;
not but have a great deal of anxiety about fair. "Steady him, forsooth!" I groan our nestlings, who were bound to try ed inwardly.
their wings so prematurely. Rachel The Reverend Mr. Wilson's parents
comforted herself with thinking that were dead, but he had a charming young
Rettie's shy, silent, pretty ways would married sister who graced the occasion
disarm all criticisms in regard to her with her presence, and smiled approval
"culture," and her exquisite housewife- at our lovely brides. And they were
ry and good judgment would make Mr. exquisite in their fair young beauty,
Wilson quite as comfortable as mere lit- though their dresses were white muslin
erary attainments; but what was there instead of moire, and their veils illusion
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