THEIR FIRST YEAR’S MARRIED LIFE. 13 
strawberries and whortleberries that are so 
acceptable to the palate ; do you promise to 
watch beside her in the silent hours of the 
night, when hungry cats and snakes prowl 
around her, designing to make her their vic- 
tim ; do you promise to remain faithful to her, 
and love and cherish her until death shall you 
part ? 
I do,” answered the young bridegroom 
firmly. 
And you. Miss Thrush,” continued the 
Hermit, addressing her, do you take this 
young male to be your lawfully wedded mate ; 
do you promise to cherish and obey him ; do 
you promise to attend faithfully to the duties 
of your married life ; care for the children 
given you, educate them in the ways of moral- 
ity, and teach them to perform the duties that 
will be incumbent on them in time to come ; 
and when you have left these northern scenes 
for your winter home in the far south, will 
you remain faithful and affectionate to your 
spouse, through all the gayeties and tempta- 
tions of that beautiful clime ? ” 
