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FOOLISH FEAR. would praise her, and be well pleased with her.

The wedding was performed with all honour and due solemnity, and the desired night came; and soon after the feast was ended, and the young people had withdrawn after having taken leave of the newly married couple, the mother, cousins, neighbours, and other lady friends led the bride to the chamber where she was to spend the night with her husband, where they joyfully divested her of her raiment, and put her to bed, as was right and proper. Then they wished her good-night, and one said:

"My dear, may God give thee joy and pleasure in thy husband, and mayst thou so live with him as to be for the salvation of both your souls."

Another said:

"My dear, God give thee such peace and happiness with thy husband, that the heavens may be filled with your works."

And all, having expressed similar wishes, left. The bride's mother, who remained the last, questioned her daughter if perchance she had remembered the lesson she had been taught. And the girl, who, as the proverb goes, did not carry her tongue in her pocket, replied that she well remembered all that had been told her, and—thank God had—forgotten nothing.

"Well done," said the mother. "Now I will leave thee, recommending thee to God and praying that He may give thee good luck. Farewell, my good and wise mother."

And soon as the schoolmistress had finished,