PART II.

MARRIAGES.

ARGUMENT.

_Previous Consideration necessary: yet not too long Delay.--Imprudent Marriage of Old Kirk and his Servant.--Comparison between an antient and youthful Partner to a Young Man.--Prudence of Donald the Gardener.--Parish Wedding: the compelled Bridegroom: Day of Marriage, how spent.--Relation of the Accomplishments of Phœbe Dawson, a Rustic Beauty: her Lover: his Courtship: their Marriage.--Misery of Precipitation.--The Wealthy Couple: Reluctance in the Husband; why?--Unusually fair Signatures in the Register: the common Kind.--Seduction of Bridget Dawdle by Footman Daniel: her Rustic Lover: her Return to him.--An Antient Couple; Comparisons on the occasion.--More pleasant View of Village Matrimony: Farmers celebrating the Day of Marriage; their Wives.--Reuben and Rachel an happy Pair: an Example of Prudent Delay.--Reflections on their State who were not so prudent, and its Improvement towards the Termination of Life: an Old Man so circumstanced.--Attempt to seduce a Village Beauty: Persuasion and Reply: the Event._

THE

PARISH REGISTER.