A Daughter of Fife

But mere physical delight never satisfies even the humblest gathering of

this douce nationality. In a few hours the fiddles were stopped, and the

table set out, and the great bowl of wedding punch brought in, to brighten

wit, and song, and story. It was then very near the close of the day, and

with it came Mary Campbell to give the bridal toast. She had been dancing

with her own friends, and her cheeks were like a delicate flame, and her

eyes like twin stars. Never had she looked so beautiful, as when standing

amid the standing crowd, she raised the tiny glass above her head, and

said in the sudden stillness-

"Here's to the bonnie Bride!

Long may she live! and happy may she be!"

Then hand clasped hand, and glass touched glass, and heart touched heart,

and from every lip rang out, again and again, the loving, joyful

invocation-

"Here's to the bonnie Bride!

Long may she live! and happy may she be!"