"Don't tremble—don't cry, Mary, you are in my heart, and that is flooded with beauty; what else do I want?"
Mary sobbed out the tenderness and gratitude that filled her bosom in a few low murmurs, that had no meaning, save to the heart over which they were uttered.
Aunt Hannah turned to uncle Nathan.
"Is it not best, my brother, that two creatures who love each other so much should be married?"
Uncle Nathan was busy wiping the tears from his brown eyes, that were full of tender light as those of a rabbit. It was seldom that he awoke to a sense of worldly wisdom; but the helplessness of the young creatures before him, for once overcame his benevolence.
"Oh, Hannah, what would become of them when we get too old for work?"
"We are too old, now," answered the sister, "but put all this on one side. If you and I were rich enough to make them and theirs comfortable, what would you say then?"
"What would I say—why, God bless them and multiply them upon the face of the earth! That's what I would say!"
"And I," responded aunt Hannah, solemnly, "would answer amen!"
With a dignity that was very impressive, she took the clasped hands of the youth and maiden between both hers and once more she uttered the word "amen"