up a country bridal entertainment.

Such _was_ the pastoral position of Mr. Worthiman, and such the
unmolested happiness of Green Valley! But, alas! the serpent that
looked with envious eyes on the paradise of our first parents, was
about to creep stealthily among the vine-clad cottages of the peaceful
villagers. And as in Eden his poison first insinuated itself through
the mind of woman, so from woman was it to be communicated to these
homes of contentment and love.

Among the few merchants of all-wares that had come in to supply the
growing population of Green Valley, was a young man of more amiability
than vigor of mind, who, having lived a single but quiet and peaceable
life some years in the village, brought unexpectedly, from a town
near-by, a wife to divide or double his blessedness. Kate Tiptop was
cousin to the young man, and did not change her name in marrying him.
She was the only daughter of parents who lived just long enough to
spoil by indulgence a child whose native faculties of mind were more
than ordinarily vigorous and acute; such as, under a disciplinary
course of education, united with healthful moral training, would have
ripened her into the noblest development of woman; but her first idea
took the form of self, instead of truth, and growing perception
brought only increasing self-consciousness. In short, she had early
imbibed the belief that the world in which she moved was made for her
accommodation; and her inherent passion--love of power--became more
and more apparent as she increased in years. Had she been beautiful in
person, this might have shown itself in more vain, but less injurious
forms; as it was, she desired to sway hearts, not to receive their
flattering unction in return, but to strengthen and confirm her own
sense of ability to do it. Love of _action_ alone induced her to
engage in the practical duties of domestic life, and she married more
for the sake of being the head of a family, than from any motives of
affection. To accomplish this desire, she well knew that her husband
must be her inferior in mental strength; while the additional
inducement that fixed her choice on her cousin was, that in uniting
herself with him, she would not even have to yield her name. Mrs.
Tiptop soon became a pattern-card to all housewives--always having her
work _done_, and _well_ done; and never lacking time nor tongue to
entertain visiters, nor health, leisure, or purpose to visit among the
neighb