When I returned to my dear Mother, she said, “Cherry, I’m sure you will be amused when I tell you what I have been dreaming about,—I dreamed you were married!”
I said, “Dear Mother, if you take to dreaming, and my Father to presaging, there’ll be Nothing left to be surprised about!”
“Ah, well,” said she, gently smiling, “but this was a very pretty, pleasant Dream—You were married to a Person a good Deal older than yourself, but very much to your own Mind, notwithstanding, and were living like a Lady, with Everything genteel and comfortable about you.”
I smiled to cover a Sigh; and kissing her thin Hand, said, “May you live, dear Mother, to see it.”
“No,” said she, “I know I shall not do that—my Time is growing very short now; but yet I shall leave you in Peace, Cherry,—I am so certain of your doing well. I don’t mean because of this foolish Dream.”
“As for doing well,” said I, “God’s Blessing generally rests on the Child of many Prayers, ... but if by doing well, you mean marrying well, do you think that is the only Way I can be happy?”
“No,” said she, after a Pause, “I do not. I think there is no other Happiness equal to it, where the Parties are well assorted, and are good to the Core; but much depends upon each other, and much upon themselves; so much, that it had often been better for them they had never met.”
“And as so few are good to the Core,” said I, “perhaps the Balance of Happiness may not lie on the Side you think.”
“Perhaps not,” said she, “but every one hopes to be the Exception.—However,” she added, after another Pause, “these Things are not of our ordering; and whatever be the happier Lot, it is certain we cannot secure it unless it be appointed us, whether for ourselves or for those we dearly love. It may be God’s Will that you shall be Cherry Curling all your Days, in Spite of my Dream, and in Spite of your being fitted for Happiness in another State; but that it is His Purpose to make you happy in yourself, whatever you are, I feel as sure of as that I see you now.”
When I told her what Satisfaction the Brandy-cherries had given, she smiled quietly, and said, “The same Woman, still!—You shall take her some potted Salmon to-morrow.”