A Colonial Wooing
property sufficient for thy maintenance, if thee returns to England, but it goes to thy cousins if thee declines to accept the conditions. What does thee think?"
"Think?" said Ruth, "think about it?" And while speaking she walked from front of the fire to the middle of the room, and standing on tiptoe, first on one foot and then on the other, as if about to begin a dance for their amusement, and then actually sang in her parent's presence, keeping time with her body,—
"Money, money,
Bread and honey,
Dresses new and dresses gay;
Lovers many,
Cares not any—"
then stopping as suddenly as she began, dropped on her knees at her mother's feet and, looking the astonished woman directly in the face, added,—
"Mother, must I go away?"
"I am astonished!" exclaimed Matthew Watson, "singing and dancing in my house. Anne, is thy daughter ill?"
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