After a short visiting period and the wedding cake and rich hot cocoa had been served, the official left. Hannah went into the kitchen to say good-bye to her mother who had managed to stay by herself since the ceremony.
Hannah kissed her mother and as she did she was told, "Hannah, thee knows that thee must submit thyself to thy husband."
"Oh, yes, I know," but she had no idea what her mothers' message was intended to convey to her. Soon afterwards she put her long cape on and left her father's house, with her husband of a few moments, for her new home and life in town. This time after he had climbed into the buggy beside her he put his arm around her and drew her close to him, then tucked the warm laprobe around her and they started for town.
When they arrived at Silas' house, he jumped to the ground and after he had secured the team, together they walked up the board sidewalk to the house. Silas opened the door with his key and then picked Hannah up in his arms and carried her across the threshold. "Welcome to your home, my dear, dear little wife, and may you always be happy here or any place else where you may go with me in the years ahead."
Hannah thought her new husband was a very gallant gentleman to make such a pretty speech to her. She determined she would always do her part to make her marriage a success.
Silas had arranged with the man from the livery stable to come to the house for the team for he felt that Hannah might not like to be alone even for a few minutes this first night of their marriage.
He lighted the lamps, pulled the blinds and started a fire in the big "Oak" heater. He went out to the carriage and brought the big new valise into the house. He kissed Hannah again and took her to the bedroom where he hung her cape and bonnet in the closet. Then he unbuckled the straps that held the lid onto it and removed it. "Do you want to wait until morning to put your clothes away or shall we do it now?"
Hannah had no idea what was expected of her. "Whichever you want to do," she answered. He lifted out the garments one by one and she put them away in the dresser drawers. When he came to one of the long-sleeved, high-necked nightgowns, he tossed it onto the bed. Then it dawned on Hannah that she must undress and sleep with this tall handsome man who had become her husband only a few hours before.
She sat down on the side of the bed and started to cry because she suddenly realized what being married really meant. Silas dropped to his knees before her and said, "My wife, my dear, dear little wife, do not cry like this." But it was several minutes before she could stop and before she realized what was happening to her, Silas had taken off her high buttoned shoes and was gently rubbing her feet which were really cold.
"I will get a hot brick to put in the bed," Silas said.
While he was gone to the kitchen, Hannah quickly removed her new dress and other clothes, donned the nightgown and slipped into the bed that Silas' sister had made up clean and fresh that day for the new bride. She turned on her side and buried her face in the pillow, for it was hot and blushing.
When Silas returned, he tucked the warm wrapped brick to her feet, removed his clothes, put on his long nightshirt, and after putting out the light, got into bed with her and gently gathered her into his eager arms murmuring over and over again, "my wife, my dear, dear little wife."
Sometime during the night their marriage was consummated, and Hannah knew what her mother's message had intended to convey to her. She knew what it meant to really be a wife.
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