410 
RURAL HOURS. 
putting their heads together in deep consultation over a new 
shawl. Occasionally a young couple appear, whom one shrewd- 
ly guesses to be betrothed lovers, from a peculiar expression 
of felicity, which in the countenance of the youth is dashed, 
perhaps, with rustic roguery, and in that of his sweetheart with 
a mixture of coquetry and timidity ; in general, such couples are 
a long while making their choice, exchanging very expressive 
looks and whispers while the bargain is going on. It sometimes 
happens that a husband or father has been either charged with 
the purchase of a gown, or a shaAvl, for some of his womankind, 
or else, having made a particularly good sale himself, he deter- 
mines to carry a present home with him ; and it is really amusing 
to look on while he makes his selection —such close examination 
as he bestows on a shilling print is seldom given to a velvet or a 
satin ; he rubs it together, he passes his hand over it with pro- 
found deliberation ; he holds it off at a distance to take a view of 
the effect ; he lays it down on the comiter ; he squints through it 
at the light ; he asks if it will wash — if it will wear well — if it's 
the fashion ? One trembles lest, requiring so much perfection, 
the present may after all not be made, and frequently one is 
obliged to leave the shop in a state of painful uncertainty as to 
the result, always hoping, however, that the wife or daughter at 
home may not be disappointed. But male and female, old and 
young, they are generally a long time making up their minds. A 
while since we found a farmer's wife, a stranger to us, lookino- at 
a piece of pink ribbon ; we had several errands to attend tO; left 
the shop, and returned there again nearly half an hour later, and 
still found our friend in a state of hesitation ; a stream of persua- 
sive words from the clerk showing the ribbon, seemed to have 
