st go that over again, that I
may get it by heart for our next town meeting--blazing flags--fiery
cannon--smoking constitutions--

JASPER. I pray you pardon me. I am an old soldier, and fought for the
liberty which you enjoy, and, therefore, claim some privilege in
expressing my opinion. But come, your friends are idle, let us have
breakfast before our cottage door.--Ah, Jerry, my Crissy would make a
fine soldier's wife: do you know that I have given her a military
education?

JERRY. No, surely--

JASPER. Aye, she can crack a bottle at twelve paces with a pistol.

JERRY. Crack a bottle! Come, that's a good one; I can crack a bottle
too, but not so far off.

JASPER. And then she can bring down a buck, at any distance.

JERRY. Bring down a buck? I don't like that--can't say as how I like my
wife to meddle with bucks. Can she milk--knit garters--make apple butter
and maple sugar--dance a reel after midnight, and ride behind her
husband on a pony, to see the trainings of our sogers--that's the wife
for my money. Oh, here she comes.

_Enter CHRISTINE and LENOX from the cottage._

JASPER. Christine, here is farmer Mayflower and his friends, who have
come to visit our cottage, and you in particular.

CHRISTINE. They are all welcome. Good morning, Jerry--how is it with
you?

JERRY. Purely, Miss Crissy, I'm stout and hearty, and you look as pretty
and as rosy as a field of pinks on a sunshiny morning.

JASPER. Come here, farmer--give me your hand--Christine, yours--[_Joins
them._]--there; may you live long and happy, and my blessings ever go
with you.

Christine. [_Aside in amazement._] Heavens! what can this mean? [_LENOX
is agitated--pause--JASPER and group retire--LENOX remains at a
distance._]

JERRY. Why, Miss Crissy, your father has consented that I shall marry
you, and I've come with my neighbours to have a little frolic, and carry
you home with me.

CHRISTINE. And am I of so little moment as not to be consulted? Am I
thus to be given away by my father without one anxious question? [_With
decision._] Farmer, pardon my frankness; on this occasion, sincerity
alone is required--I do not like you, I will not marry you--nay, do not
look surprised. I am a stranger to falsehood and dissimulation, and thus
end at once all hopes of ever becoming my husband.

JERRY. Why, now, Miss Crissy, that's very cruel of you--I always had a
sneaking kindness for you, and when your father gave his consent, I
didn't dream as