I have resolved to amend and reform my life.

_R.C._--But tell us some of it: how did you begin, Will? For this has
been an extraordinary case, that is certain. She has preached a sermon,
indeed, if she has wrought this upon you.

_W.A._--Why, I first told her the nature of our laws about marriage, and
what the reasons were that men and women were obliged to enter into such
compacts as it was neither in the power of one nor other to break; that
otherwise, order and justice could not be maintained, and men would run
from their wives, and abandon their children, mix confusedly with one
another, and neither families be kept entire, nor inheritances be settled
by legal descent.

_R.C._--You talk like a civilian, Will. Could you make her understand
what you meant by inheritance and families? They know no such things
among the savages, but marry anyhow, without regard to relation,
consanguinity, or family; brother and sister, nay, as I have been told,
even the father and the daughter, and the son and the mother.

_W.A._--I believe, sir, you are misinformed, and my wife assures me of
the contrary, and that they abhor it; perhaps, for any further relations,
they may not be so exact as we are; but she tells me never in the near
relationship you speak of.

_R.C._--Well, what did she say to what you told her?

_W.A._--She said she liked it very well, as it was much better than in
her country.

_R.C._--But did you tell her what marriage was?

_W.A._--Ay, ay, there began our dialogue. I asked her if she would be
married to me our way. She asked me what way that was; I told her
marriage was appointed by God; and here we had a strange talk together,
indeed, as ever man and wife had, I believe.

N.B.--This dialogue between Will Atkins and his wife, which I took down
in writing just after he told it me, was as follows:--

_Wife_.--Appointed by your God!--Why, have you a God in your country?

_W.A._--Yes, my dear, God is in every country.

_Wife_.--No your God in my country; my country have the great old
Benamuckee God.

_W.A._--Child, I am very unfit to show you who God is; God is in heaven
and made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is.

_Wife_.--No makee de earth; no you God makee all earth; no makee my
country.

[Will Atkins laughed a little at her expression of God not making her
country.]

_Wife_.--No laugh; why laugh me? This no ting to laugh.

[He was justly reproved by his wife, f