Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-11
9tltrt Gales.
PRESENT. ENT;
OR, THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
BY MISS CAROLINE NJ. sIssoN.

Just as the sun was sinking, ono line day IN
June a carriaOe stopped at the gate Of the old
stone church in Merton and two ladies', young,
lovely and richly dressed, were handed out by
gentleman who had, for the last half hour, been
pacing up and down the church-yard pausing
now and then to read the name on some moss
covered stone or leaning moment against one
of the magnificent old trees that beautfed and
solemnized the spot. 1t seemed by his eager
greeting, that he had been impatienlIy waiting
the coming of the beautiful girls whom he d.
rectly conducted into the church. Almost i'm
mediatey after them the good old rector entered,
leaning on the arm Of his nephew, a slender,
graceful youth, whom he had brought as a wit
ness of ceremony he had been urged to per-
form in the most private manner. Reverenty
the old man opened his book and the young
people silently placed themselves before the altar
The quiet of the lonely church, made more i'm
pressye by the shadowy dmness of the twilight
hour, the full, deep, solemn voice of the rector
and the low earnest tones Of the young respond
entswhlch alone broke the almost painful silence,
gave an air Of sadness to that strange bridal,
and when Robert Elliot signed the marriage Ger.
t6cate as a witness, his hand trembIed and his
young heart sank with a sad foreboding of sor-
row either TO himself or the young and beautiful
pair who had just received the nuptiaI benedc-
ton. Silently and slowly the party left the
church, and as much to the surprise of the boy
as to the horror of the good old sexton who o.
hn YAfa tn hn hriI 1tar
few hurried sentences and warm embrace hand
ed his young and weeping bride into the carriage
then pressing the hand of her sister, who was
already seated, with fervent, "God bless YOU"
and one glance of anguish, turned hastily away
and mounting horse which awaited him, rode
off rapidly in one direction while the carriage
Immediately rolled away in another
II am afraid they'll come to no good, said
the sexton as he shut the heavy iron gate and
placed the key in his stout leather pouch, touch
ing his cap respectfully to the rector as he fin
lshed and good night, master Robert to the
STRIPPING who just then stopped and picked from
the pavemet, where it had probably fallen from
the hand Of the bridegroom in that hurried part.
ing, folded paper which he instantly recognized
as the marriage certificate, Looking into the
pale distracted face Of his uncle he saw it would
be OF no use to speak to him of the paper then
for the old man was already far off in a reverie
such as he so often INDUCED in, that his old
housekeeper used to say, "the minister lives in
the other world, and only comes back once in a
while to do somebody or other kindness" Oh
that doing Kindness ! how delightful it was t.
that good old man He had mnistered in thai
church for nearly forty years, and for more than
twenty of them, each time he entered the door
had passed the graves of his wife and the six
children she bore him, who had once made his
home and his heart so cheerful, and who were
called in the bright spring-time to their better
home above-no wonder that the old man hyet
ain that other word' he had so many treasures
there-and yet no one ever SAID, no one ever
thought he left undone a single duty here--hC
was ever ready to receive the child into Christi
flock to breathe prayer and whisper words O
comfort at the bedside Of the dying, to speak
kind, consoling words to the mourner, to give
gentle counsel and faithful, friendly warning, anc
to share his scanty purse with all who needed
Noone eve saw him angry, no one ever saw
him sad sereney cheerful he went on his uuie
way honorcd, revereuced by aI-too dreamy
perhaps, too inactive for these inpuIsve days, but
Just suited to the time and place he liz ed i'll
gentle shepherd leading peaceful, happy flock
Robert Elliot was his sisters son, an orphan boy
whom he was training to fill his own place, as
he hoped, in after years, but those who saw the
fire Ill the boy's dark eye and marked his proud
firm bearing, even in early youth, thought him
Ill suited to the holy calling, and he himself haG
many vision of honor gained, and laurels on in
far different sphere than that secluded village
Still he remained at the parsonage, dutful anC
patient pupil, dearly loving the good old man tc
whom he was the last earth-Aower; the only be-
ing, out Of heaven, he could call his own.
When Robert handed the certificate that eve
ming to the rector, the old mans face saddencd fol
moment, and he said,
"They should have taken more care put i
in my prayer book, my son; they will doubtless
call tor 1t soon, and tomorrow you must RECORD
the marriage for me in the parish register"
Robert placed the paper as desired, and the
seating himself on low bench at his uncle
feet, began talking Of the strange and secrt
marriage, saying,
odd you know the parties before, sir2'
81 never saw the bride or her sister till we mi
in the church, but have known the bridegroom
Richard Harding, since his boyhood, or rattle
should say | knew him as boy, for he ha
been many years absent from his country and
did not know Of his return, till he came this alte
noon to request me to perform the ceremony"
"The lady is very beautiful, very" said RoI
ert thoughtlully, and to himself rather than
the rector, who, however, somewhat to the boy
surprise, Immediately answered,
"She is very beautiful, and fear Richard hi
done wrong in perSuadng her to become
wife without the consent or knowledge of ar
of her friends except her twin sister, who,
schoolgirl like herself and of course as niue
stranger here, is not very safe counsellor"
81 wish you would tell me all you know