Quite forgetful of self, and full of praise of his rival,
Archly the maiden smiled, and, with eyes overrunning with laughter,
Said in a tremulous voice, ‘Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?’”
The bewildered but happy secretary at once took the hint. Returning to Standish, he reported his failure. Then he did “speak for himself,” and to such purpose that he was soon married. There were no horses in the wilderness; so after the nuptials,
“Alden, the thoughtful, the careful, so happy, so proud of Priscilla,
Brought out a snow-white bull, obeying the hand of his master,
Led by a cord that was tied to an iron ring in its nostrils,
Covered with crimson cloth, and a cushion placed for a saddle.
She should not walk, he said, through the dust and heat of the noonday;
Nay, she should ride like a queen, not plod along like a peasant.