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 I always loved them sort o' flowers, I wore them when I went a courting Bess Lucas; an' I would like to die with one in my hand!' So a man may like flowers, and be but a hempen dog after all."

"Now don't you, Goody; be still, can't you; what a tale for a marriage-day!"

"Tally vally," returned the grim hag; "many a blessing carries a curse in its arms, as the new moon carries the old. This won't be one of your happy weddings I tell ye."

"And why d'ye say that?"

"Did you ever see a man with a look like that, make a happy husband?—No, no; can ye fancy the merry laugh o' childer in this house, or a babe on the father's knee, or the happy, still smile on the mother's winsome face, some few year hence? No, Madge! the de'il has set his black claw on the man's brow."

"Hush! hush, Goody Darkmans, he may hear o' ye," said the second gossip; who, having now done all that remained to do, had seated herself down by the window; while the more ominous Rh