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〃Thank you； I have no doubt of it。 I feel perfect confidence in Mr。 Hubbard； he is a man so much older than myself； and so much more experienced； that I shall be entirely guided in future by his counsel and advice。〃
Miss Agnes had some difficulty in repressing a smile and a sigh。
〃Of course； I am well aware that many people will think I am taking a foolish step；〃 continued Mrs。 Wyllys。 Hubbard's connexions； are generally not thought agreeable； perhaps； he has very little property； and no profession。 I am not blinded； you see； but I am very indifferent as to the opinion of the world in general； I am very independent of all but my immediate friends； as you well know； Agnes。〃
Miss Wyllys was silent。
〃In fact； my attention was first fixed upon Mr。 Hubbard； by finding how little he was appreciated and understood by others； I regretted that I had at first allowed myself to be guided by general opinion。 Now I think it very possible that； although Mr。 Hubbard has been your neighbour for years； even you； Agnes； may have a very mistaken opinion of him； you may have underrated his talents； his strong affections； and energetic character。 I was surprised myself to find； what a very agreeable companion he is！〃
〃I have always believed Mr。 James Hubbard a man of kind feelings； as you observe； and a man of good principles； two important points； certainly。〃
〃I am glad you do him justice。 But you are not aware perhaps； what a very pleasant companion he is； where he feels at his ease； and knows that he is understood。〃
'That is to say； where he can doze； while another person thinks and talks for him；' thought Miss Agnes。
〃The time is fixed I suppose for the wedding； Harriet？〃 she inquired aloud； with a smile。
〃Nearly so； I believe。 I told Mr。 Hubbard that I should be just as ready to marry him next week； as next year； we agreed that when two persons of our ages had come to an understanding； they might as well settle the matter at once。 We shall be married； I fancy； in the morning； in church； with only two or three friends present。 I hope； Agnes； that your father and yourself will be with me。 You know that I should never have taken this step； if you had not agreed with me in thinking it for the good of my children。〃
〃Thank you； Harriet； of course we shall be present； if you wish it。〃
〃Certainly I wish it。 I shall always look upon you as my best friends and advisers。〃
〃Next to Mr。 Hubbard； in future；〃 replied Miss Agnes； smiling。
〃When you know him better； you will confess that he deserves a high place in my confidence。 You have no idea how much his brother and nieces think of him； but that is no wonder； for they know his good sense； and his companionable qualities。 He is really a very agreeable companion； Agnes； for a rational woman； quite a cultivated mind； too。〃
Visions of cabbages and turnips rose in Miss Agnes's mind； as the only cultivation ever connected； till now； with Uncle Dozie's name。
〃We passed last evening charmingly； I read the Lay of the Last Minstrel aloud to him； and he seemed to enjoy it very much；〃 continued Mrs。 Wyllys。
｛〃Lay of the Last Minstrel〃 = long narrative poem （1805） by Sir Walter Scott （1771…1832）｝
'He took a nap； I suppose；' thought Miss Agnes。 〃He ought to be well pleased to have a fair lady read aloud to him；〃 she replied； smiling。
〃The better I know him； the more satisfied I am with my choice。 I have： found a man upon whom I can depend for support and adviceand one who is at the same time a very pleasant companion。 Do you know； he sometimes reminds me of our excellent father；〃
This was really going too far； in Miss Agnes's opinion； she quite resented a comparison between Uncle Dozie and Mr。 Wyllys。 The widow； however； was too much occupied with her own affairs； to notice Miss Agnes's expression。
〃I find； indeed； that the whole family are more agreeable than I had supposed； but you rather gave me a prejudice against them。 The young ladies improve on acquaintance； they are pretty； amiable young women； I have seen them quite often since we have been near neighbours。 Well； I must leave you； for Mr。 Hubbard dines with me to…day。 In the mean time； Agnes； I commit my affairs to your hands。 Since I did not find your father at home； I shall write to him this evening。〃
The ladies parted； and as Mrs。 Wyllys passed out of the room； she met Elinor。
〃Good morning； Elinor；〃 she said； 〃your aunt has news for you； which I would tell you myself if I had time：〃 then nodding； she left the house； and had soon driven off。 〃My dear Aunt； what is this news？〃 asked Elinor。
Miss Agnes looked a little annoyed； a little mortified； and a little amused。
When the mystery was explained； Elinor's amazement was great。
〃It is incredible！〃 she exclaimed。 〃My Aunt Wyllys actually going to marry that prosing； napping Mr。 Hubbard； Uncle Dozie！〃
〃When I remember her husband；〃 said Miss Agnes； with feeling； 〃it does seem incredible； my dear； warm…hearted； handsome； animated brother George！〃
〃How extraordinary！〃 said Elinor； who could do nothing but exclaim。
〃No； not in the least extraordinary；〃 added Miss Agnes； 〃such marriages； dear； seem quite common。〃 Mr。 Wyllys was not at all astonished at the intelligence。
〃I have expected that Harriet would marry； all along； she has a great many good intentions； and some good qualities； but I knew she would not remain a widow。 It is rather strange that she should have chosen James Hubbard； but she might have done worse。〃
With these philosophical reflections； Mrs。 Wyllys's friends looked forward to the happy event which was soon to take place。 The very same morning that Miss Agnes was taken into the confidence of the bride； the friends of the groom also learned the news； but in a more indirect manner。
The charms of a parterre are daily be…rhymed in verse； and vaunted in prose； but the beauties of a vegetable garden seldom meet with the admiration they might claim。 If you talk of beets； people fancy them sliced with pepper and vinegar； if you mention carrots； they are seen floating in soup； cabbage figures in the form of cold…slaw； or disguised under drawn…butter； if you refer to corn； it appears to the mind's eye wrapt in a napkin to keep it warm； or cut up with beans in a succatash ｛sic｝。 Half the people who see these good things daily spread on the board before them； are only acquainted with vegetables after they have been mutilated and disguised by cookery。 They would not know the leaf of a beet from that of the spinach； the green tuft of a carrot from the delicate sprigs of parsley。 Now； a bouquet of roses and pinks is certainly a very beautiful object； but a collection of fine vegetables； with the rich variety of shape and colour； in leaf； fruit； and root； such as nature has given them to us； is a noble sight。 So thought Uncle Dozie； at least。 The rich texture and shading of the common cabbage…leaf was no novelty to him； he had often watched the red； coral…like veins in the glossy green of the beet； the long； waving leaf of the maize； with the silky tassels of its ears； were beautiful in his eyes； and so were the rich； white heads of the cauliflower； delicate as carved ivory； the feathery tuft of the carrot； the purple fruit of the egg…plant； and the brilliant scarlet tomato。 He came nearer than most Christians； out of Weathersfield； to sympathy with the old Egyptians in their onion…worship。
｛〃parterre〃 = ornamental flower garden； 〃out of Weathersfield〃 = Wethersfield （the modern spelling）； Connecticut； was famous for its onions （there is still a red onion called 〃Red Weathersfield〃）； until struck by a blight about 1840； 〃old Egyptians〃 = ancient Egypt was proverbial for worshiping the onion｝
With such tastes and partialities； Uncle Dozie was generally to be found in his garden； between the hours of sun…rise and sun…set； gardening having been his sole occupation for nearly forty years。 His brother； Mr。 Joseph Hubbard； having something to communicate； went there in search of him； on the morning to which we refer。 But Uncle Dozie was not to be found。 The gardener； however； thought that he could not have gone very far； for he had passed near him not five minutes before； and he suggested that； perhaps Mr。 Hubbard was going out somewhere； for 〃he looked kind o' spruce and drest up。〃 Mr。 Hubbard expected his brother to dine at home； and thought the man mistaken。 In passing an arbour； however； he caught a glimpse of the individual he was looking for； and on coming nearer； he found Uncle Dozie； dressed in a new summer suit； sitting on the arbour seat taking a nap； while at his feet was a very fine basket of vegetables； arranged with more than usual care。 Unwilling to disturb him； his brother； who knew that his naps seldom lasted more than a few minutes at a time； took a turn in the garden； waiting for him to awake。 He had hardly left the arbour however； before he heard Uncle Dozie moving； turning in that direction； he was going to join him； when； to his great astonishment； he saw his brother steal from the arbour； with the basket of vegetables on his arm； and disappear between two rows of pea…brush。
〃James！I say； James！Where are you going？ Stop a minute； I want to speak to you！〃 cried Mr。 Joseph Hubbard。
He received no answer。