strive to keep his promise; but I knew that his spirit was too weak. It was a day of sorrow and mourning. But Mr. Sudbury heard the truth of the case, and came in with an excuse for Walter, and said he was welcome to the few shillings if he would never steal again. Before I left, I took my brother alone and pleaded with him to try harder than ever to be a man. I promised to assist him in every good endeavor, and in every trouble. I left him a little money, wiped away his tears, and parted from him, cheered by a trembling hope. I kept looking back for another and another sight of his dear face, and Walter's eyes followed me until I passed behind the hills. During that visit I saw the Crazy Juror again, and he fancied that he had just invented a perpetual motion, the profits of which would enable him to fill the world with schoolhouses and asylums, and give every poor orphan money enough to raise him above want, and keep him from temptation. How I did wish that his wild fancy could be true! On my return to Merrimack, I thought of George Milbank's error, and how I felt towards him for the offence at Friend Buxtons', and merchant Sudbury's example gave me a keen rebuke. Before I returned, I should not forget to say I also visited Friend Buxton's family, and was present at Hannah's wedding. I went over three or four days before that happy event was consummated, and heard from Hannah's own lips the story of her courtship. "Then you have concluded to marry young, they tell me, Hannah, and not to wait as long as you used to say you would," said I, as I sat down with her in her chamber after tea. "I conclude, of course, that your heart has found its chosen mate; and who may he be? A Friend, I dare say." "Yes, a Friend indeed, I trust,” replied Hannah. “His name is Seth Parvin. Thee's seen his father and mother at yearly meeting, Mercy; they are Dexter people. For a while they were for travelling with Robert Barclay, may-be thee remembers to have heard, and rejecting Elias Hicks' testimonies because he travelled too fast. Thee never saw Seth, I think, for he was never here till thee went to Merrimack. "I saw him, for the first time, at yearly meeting in Lynn, and I feared I never should be able to commune with him in a very friendly way. He seemed to be a gazer, and I thought that the Spirit burned low in his heart. We had a solemn time. The heaviness of death seemed to rest on the assembly, and a Friend proposed that after the business was over, the men and women should sit together, and strive by mutual prayer to relieve ourselves of the load. Then we had a season that was satisfactory to every one, I think, but me. "Seth Parvin sat near me, and while by a glance I perceived he was comely and gracious about his face and mouth, I did not like the worldly gazing that he indulged in. He gazed at me, and I was disturbed, and my communion was destroyed. I thought as I left meeting I would never like to see him again. But does thee beieve me, Mercy? that very night both he and his parents came over to our house to tarry. We spoke to each other, and he was very forward for a new acquaintance. 'I went into the garden to train a young rose, and directly he came out and professed to think the garden looked pleasant to him. Then he brought flowers to me, and asked their names, and stood gazing into my face awhile, each time, after I had given him my answers. Then he asked to walk by my side; I thought I must be friendly, and took his arm and walked with him a few minutes. He pointed out different scenes in the landscape, and said they pleased him, and he should like to dwell in such a home as ours. Then he told me about Dexter, and the woods around it and waters in sight, and of his pleasant home and comely acres. Then he asked me whose testimonies I preferred, Elias Hicks' or Robert Barclay's. I answered, Elias Hicks'. He said he agreed with me now, but once he travelled with Robert Barclay. "Then he asked me if I thought poetry was too frivolous to read. I answered, George Byron's is too frivolous, and so is Thomas Moore's, and Nathaniel Willis'-even Nathaniel's scripture poems are frivolous, for it is vain in that man to make even good paraphrases of scripture scenes and characters, which are so much better as we find them in the bible. These I consider frivolous, but did thee ever read Bernard Barton's, Mary Howitt's and John Whittier's verses? I asked. He answered that he had read them often. So have I, said I, and they are good and suitable reading. Then I find, answered he, that our views are harmonious, and I would like to ask, if thee would not think it suitable and proper for us to set our affections on one another. I was amazed by the question, and told him plainly, that I feared we could'nt walk together as the kindly affectioned should. I left him in much confusion, and ran into my chamber and wept. We met again at tea and breakfast, and exchanged farewells when they departed; but I had no will to see him any more. "After a while, I met him again at yearly meeting in Newburyport. It was a solid satisfactory season, and I found my affections much drawn out. Several saw their way clear to bear testimony with great power. Seth Parvin sat in silence till all had spoken, and I did not see him indulge in one worldly gaze. Then he rose and spoke. He spoke against standing still in Zion, and apart from the interests of the sinful and suffering world. He spoke for the prisoner and slave. He spoke for peace and good will among nations and men. He looked far comelier to me than ever before. My prejudices vanished. My heart was drawn towards him. I said to myself, If the Lord and thee are willing, I can call thee now my own.' he saw "We shook hands after meeting, and I suppose that my views were changed. He asked me, that afternoon, to walk with him. I consented. He said he felt that it would be proper for us to exchange the single for the married state, and asked if I could not travel with him now. I answered that such a thing might be. And be his wife? I gave him a rose I held in my hand, and he took my silence for assent. Our promises were exchanged, and our union has been perfected. Thee must |