Young Goodman
Brown came forth at sunset into the street
at Salem Village; but put his head back after
crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting
kiss with his young wife. And Faith, as the
wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty
head into the street, letting the wind play
with the pink ribbons of her cap while she
called to Goodman Brown.
"Dearest heart," whispered she,
softly and rather sadly, when her lips
were close to his ear, "prithee put
off your journey until sunrise and sleep
in your own bed to-night. A lone woman
is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts
that she's afeard of herself sometimes.
Pray tarry with me this night, dear husband,
of all nights in the year."
"My love and my Faith," replied
young Goodman Brown, "of all nights
in the year, this one night must I tarry
away from thee. My journey, as thou callest
it, forth and back again, must needs be
done 'twixt now and sunrise. What, my sweet,
pretty wife, cost thou doubt me already,
and we but three months married?"
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