The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-09-25
SINGULAR WEDDING.

Ministers are often though, to be kind
ol solemn melancholy, folks. The nn'n'
.ia,sd look at their glossy black coats, white
eravats, long visages aud ins'inc''vel,
think they must not laugh IA their pres
encc. Many people would he edited and
enlightened could they get behind tn,
scene and SEQ aud hear It's exubcrance o.
clerical wit aud downright good fellowship
when tho yoke Of constra,ni is thrown OIL
The fact is, solemnily, like ladia ink, 4
capital for the darker shades Of LIES PIC
ture, but there mast needs be light shades
and white spots, or where is The picture.
Western ministers are Ear more sociabie
than their brethren Of the east. Starch
does not grow out west, and theology +
less ia analogy with broad cloth. And
must copfess that know Of few merrier OF
happier places than Presby,ery after ad
iournmca,. Our missionary agent u. wa
one of The clevere.t fellows alive, the llt
Of every circle. He had one Of those faces
whose yivacity was contagious. lie never
dawned upon roomful Of folks, but the,
instantly felt a strong propensity 10 laugh
believe mirthinlness 10 him was second
TO no organ, except conscien,ionsness.-
Witness the following anecdoie, the sbso
lutte verify Of which il was a sin to doubt.
We had all been telling our stories alter
adjournment, as We sat ia good old Dutch
farmers kitchen when II. entered.
Come, H., tell us a story. You agents
see all sorts Of people, aud are always ae-
sumulsliug anecdotes. Your sermons are
moro than half picked up in that way; and
you have style Of sermonzing sun generis
which--as The schools have not recognized
tive will baplize the anecdctical style
H. yielded-seitled gracefully in an old
arm chair-p!sced his feet on the top oltle
stove and began:
.The most solemn wedding ! ever al
tended was ia X. You have all doubtless
seen singular things in your coun'rNex-
Perience in that line; bu, mine is unique
prodigioas-appalliag. One evening, Just
NJ dusk, ! was waited on by cad,serous
looking fellow. who mys.eriously minated
70 me that | was wanted that evening ~
. hymeniaI capacity. The fellows hal
was not all hat--part of the bfim was
gone He was land holder. evidently.
for his reats were canning 10. Ills boots
were not rights and lefis, they were both
Lfs, having been thrown away by for.
mer wearer, nor was there any vestige Of
rec,itnde in them. As 10 buttons they
were like vcrbs--'regusr, irregular, defec-
tive His lootensemble was gypsesish.
and he was evidently 10 The preliminary
sisges ci dumb ague.
After minute directions as to my route ]
suffered the messenger Of Cupid 10 depart,
end prepared myself for wedding. My
toilette was soon made and sailed forth.
1t was apleasan. mooniigh, night. soon
o'ad myself outside The village, a.
eross the canal, in a broad marsh
field filed with bushes. After abon, three
miles walking ! drew nigh TO log house
containing single room aud loft. ]
found the door open and entered There
were nobody within. There was no bed,
NO table, no chair, no bench, not the first
yesiige of a piece Of furniture nor a cook
ing uteabil, except The fire place. ] sup
pose FIRE paces are cooking utensils, aud
This WAS large one. There was no fire
in il, however, only a couple Of smoking
brands. stood looking waiting won
dering. Could ] have missed my way I
Nc; The directions were too precise. Could
There he plot to rob or murder?
A deep sense Of awe settled upon me-
twas abaat 10 call aloud when noise ar
rested nv attention. looked TO the cor
ner whence the sound proceeded, and there
] saw-Q was mistaken in saving there
wss no tarniture--,here was ladder with
every other round broken oui, and square
nailed on)-l looked and cav pair Of
boots coming down, followed by no other
than my agne stricken friend The bride
followed in neat, striped calico dress, and
a bonnet which was ieghorn, [prohahly)
80 called from its resemblance 10 two famil.
psr objects in nature-a leg Of bacon and
horn of whiskey.
The pair confronted me;-ihe Bridegroom
IN the blue stage Of ngne-ihe bride 10 a
blue calico. saw they expected ms 10
marry them. ] began. took breath ar
Yer 4 short prayer. ! do not think tha,
prayer was particularly lucid progress.
ed successfully through The prescribed for
mois. pronounced them man and wife.
and again entered upon short concluding
prayer.
As ] ceased speaking, and opened my
ewes, l was a.one. Bride and bridegroom
had disappeared while with JUNCTION had
been inierceding for them, and where they
we're, and what they were doing could
not tell.
The frogs and c,ickets were singing
merrilr. ] walked three miles and hall
home and went TO bed. And do YOU be-
heve il? J never got any fee. Take il
oil in all, il was the most solemn wedding
ever attended"
Miss MARTINEAU AN ATHEIST. This dis.
tinguishcd English lady Travelled in this
country sa1le Wears since and was racaiy