She was in total darkness, but her "mind made pictures while her eyes were shut." She could almost see how the bride and bridegroom looked, holding each other by the hand, with the tall Percy on one side, and the short Prudy on the other,--the dear Prudy, who was so sorry for her sister that she could not enjoy taking her place, though a fairer little bridesmaid than she made could hardly be found in the city.
The same clergyman officiated now who had married Mr.and Mrs.Parlin fifteen years before; and after he had married them over again, he made a speech which caused Dotty to cry a little under her handkerchief; or, if not the speech, it was the panacea that brought the tears--she did not know which.
He said he remembered just how Edward Parlin and Mary Read looked when they stood before him in the bloom of their youth, and promised to live together as husband and wife.

They had seemed very happy then; but he thought they were happier now; he could read in their faces the history of fifteen beautiful years.

He did not wonder the time had passed very pleasantly, for they knew how to make each other happy; they had tried to do right, and they had three lovely children, who were blessings to them, and would be blessings to any parents.
It was here that Dotty felt the tears start.
"I'm not a blessing at all," thought she; "he doesn't know anything about it, how I act, and had temper up stairs with Johnny! Johnny's put my eyes out for it, and I'll have to go to the 'Sylum, I suppose.

If I do, I shan't be a blessing so much as I am now! To anybody ever!" By and by aunt Eastman presented the bride with a bridal rose, which looked as nearly as possible like the one she had given her at the first wedding, and which grew from a slip of the same plant.

Dotty could not see the rose, but she heard her aunt say she hoped to attend Mrs.
Parlin's Golden Wedding.
"I shall be ever so old by that time," thought the little girl.
"Fifteen from fifty leaves--leaves--I don't know what it leaves; but I shall be a blind old lady, and wear a cap.