LAWSON^S HISTORY 73 



very well, and permitted him to put them into his 

 pocket again, endearing him with all the charms 

 which one of a better education than dame nature 

 had bestowed upon her, could have made use of 

 to render her consort a surer captive. After they 

 had used this sort of courtship a small time, the 

 match was confirmed by both parties, with the ap- 

 probation of as many Indian women as came to 

 the house to celebrate our Winchester wedding. 

 Every one of the bride maids were as great whores 

 as Mrs. Bride, though not quite so handsome. Our 

 happy couple went to bed together before us all, 

 and with as little blushing as if they had been 

 man and wife for seven years. The rest of the 

 company, being weary with traveling, had more 

 mind to take their rest, than add more weddinffs 

 to that hopeful one already consummated; so that, 

 though the other virgins offered their service to 

 us, we gave them their answer and went to sleep. 

 About an hour before day, I awaked and saw some- 

 body walking up and down the room, in a seem- 

 ingly deep melancholy. I called out to know who 

 it was, and it proved to be Mr. Bridegroom, who, 

 in less than twelve hours, was batchelor, husband, 

 and widower, his dear spouse having picked his 

 pocket of the beads, cadis, and what else should 

 have gratified the Indians for the victuals we re- 

 ceived of them : however, that did not serve her 

 turn, but she had also got his shoes away, which 

 he had made the night before, of a dressed buck- 

 skin. Thus early did our spark already repei]t h\s 

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