I HAVE a wonderful story to relate. Some days ago there came into this town a strange woman, she was very tall and genteel, very ancient, grave, and majestic; richly clad, and most beautifully adorned. Her graces were winning and attractive, her steps stately, her air admirable, and gait singular. She seemed very narrow in her inspections, and her eye was very observant; she seemed very active in her motions, and of very wise deportment. When she entered the town she stood awhile on a high hill, and spoke to a few people as they passed; I heard her voice and followed her; I viewed her from head to foot, with all the eyes I had. I saw her jewels were indeed valuable, her attire costly but plain: Her features were minute but proportionable, and in my judgment of things, she is an ornament to all her sex; and for her singular beauty far surpassing the daughters of men. If ever I let my eyes run without a rein, they did then; indeed she took me with her eye-lids, and I was fast caught in the amorous net. I inquired if any knew her, some said they had just seen her, others said they had heard the fame of her, but none could tell me where she came from for certainty; all was conjecture about her nativity, nor could I find any among them all that was well acquainted with her. Never since I came into this world, did I ever find so intense a desire after any person as after her; I longed to have a little converse with her, and indeed the sight of her would have done me good, but there was no likelihood of my being thus gratified. Being very desirous of knowing where she came from, I made perpetual inquiry after her, and at last I found a young man, named Jedidiah, who knew her well; and he told me she had placed her affections some years ago on a young man, and she seemed so in love that she could not well conceal it.
The young man was very reluctant to the match, because there were several embarrassments in the way, as first, he must get an act of parliament to change his name; secondly he must forsake father, mother, and all that he had; thirdly, their dispositions were so diametrically opposite to one another. Howbeit the match is not broke off, several people were together the other night at the gentleman's house, and among all the rest I was invited, but did not know at first that the lady was there; but when I saw her there, I thought my curiosity was gratified. I watched her narrowly, and I found by her broken language that she was a foreigner, for she spoke very bad English.
One man spake to her about politics, but she gave him no answer; another asked her several questions about astronomy, but she seemed a stranger to all sciences and arts. She was very sensible indeed in divinity; her memory was strong, her views clear, her judgment ripe, her ideas consistent, her conversation nervous, and her sentences weighty, and delivered with much solidity. She looked cheerful, but never once offered to smile.
The young man asked her if she had any fortune, for you must know we methodist parsons are all for money; at that she held up her hands and said, In my left hand is length of days, and in my right hand riches and honour. He asked her if she thought she could manage a family, and furnish a table, and she said, she could kill her own beasts, furnish her own table, mingle her own wine, and bid her own guests.
The next day they were married, and I was there, and as soon as they came into the parlour she kissed him and said, "I Wisdom dwell with Prudence." I was exceedingly well entertained, for the bride put forth a few riddles saying, "I find out knowledge of witty inventions;" and Understanding, her kinswoman, unfolded them. Her father embraced the bridegroom, and said, "Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and be thou always ravished with her love." Another said, Let him take heed to his spirit, and deal not treacherously with the wife of his youth, Mal. 2. 15. And another said, she shall be an ornament of grace to his neck, and a crown of glory shall she deliver unto him. So we broke up, and then I found her father was the ancient of days. Her husband's name was Prudence, her kinswoman was Understanding, and her maiden name was Wisdom, but now it is Grace.
W. H.
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