The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-09-27
Early times in Indiana.

SAID Major Ollc-lcy a. he casually dropped
IN uu Us Yesterday morning and commenced ,a.k.
ing away IN lis usua! quiet, chatty and peculiar
manner
I'm SICK and tired Of ths artificial way Of do.
ing thing IN these latter days
why so, Mljorf
There 3, an eternal sight too much parade
bout everything that Is gong on
Il was at q wedding las, nIyht--the daughter Of
an old AMI much esteemed friend was 90 be mar
icd. ana ! vas so urgently invited. that couldn't
help going there Vas 50 much lls, and parade
that I was perfectly Disguised. couldn't help
comparing ,hu proceedings where q couple was
married at LaUGtacplurg many years ago. when
Indiana formed a pant OF the great North western
Territory. a, that time the settlement of the
cmiEran's were mostly confined to the rich bot.
tom land. OF the water courses Iawrrucehury
was then O small village with few log cabins
Ny father WIS a,iiug ma.t-,-atc for the district
and Nery promptly attended 90 all the yaluu,
duties q that ,t,itc iu addition to which be was
IN the habit Of doing good deal Of manual 'a
Dor on HIS own hDua
That was when you waseni big enough 70 d,
much, N,jorf
Exactly, | was a tow headed brat Of some
eight or ten years old, when the uciieu, am a.
bout 20 relate occurred, but remember all the
PARTICULARS as well as though it occurred vr-:rr
day. You see it was about dinner time one iav
DO ,be f,'i oi the yeaE when The old man being
engaged IN laying ia d supply # wood for the
winter drove Up hisoX team with pretty solid
load Of feel.
Just then a young and unsophi-.ica'rl couple
entered the village hand u hand inquired for
the Squire, and were duly directed TO the house
The youth wa> barefoot. and wore coarse but
clean, tow linen shirt and pants. and rough straw
hat of home manufacture His fair companion
was dressed iu blue striped cotton frock. pink
cotton apron. fine bonnet and coarse Iru.au shoes
without stockings.
These were their wedding dresses. and their
severe simplicity aud the thorough independence
they manifested made an impression upon my
mind that vii. never bee ,iIaced'
We come 20 get married said The Young man
to the old lady, my mother, who was properly
busy among the pots and kettles.
That's very good business said tie old lady
smiling gacou-ly, dough YOU appear to look
up, he'll splice You IN less than no time So out
she bol'ed To give that important luuctouary
doe notice Of the business ia hand
i can't stop uIi uuload this wood said the
old man. tell them 90 come out here
And out they camc--the old man wa, on the
top uf the cart, and every time he threw off n
stick he asked a question Before he WAS fairly
ul,oIlcd be- had the youths whole story, having
a,ccrtaIuyd the names, ages aud residence Of the
parties. how long he had known the Young wo-
man, If be really loved her, aud was willing to
labor honestly to promote her happiness, Gc.-
The vouugstcr gave simple and satisfactory
answers 10 all the questions propoundcd.
In the meantime, tie old lads. perfectly under
standing Dads way Of doing things, had sent me
out to say to the people that wedding was
coming of ~ the house, and by the time the
wood was un'oadcd quite q crowd had collected
g. wiuc,, the ceremony.
The old fellow having pitched out hi7 last
stick. aud picked up his long goad, stood up in
the car, and commenced tho performance,
Jest ilnp hands said he to the young couple
Il was done accordingly
I'm satisfied with both Of We, continued he,
you've n perfect nigh, to Sit married and he uni.
ted EN- in short order
As the rahers ON this house are Joined togeth-
or. 20 / inc vou--you are man and wifo--salu'e
your bride | don't charge anything for the ope.
ration whoa haw, Buck. get along Bright
and with an eloquent flourish Of his long stick, he
started for another load Of wood leaving the
newly welded pair amid the villagers kissing each
other with very distinct aud particular evidence
of satisfaction.
That was wedding worth having said Ma
ior Oudesley; i knew the couple afterwards, and
know them yet, for they are both living IN a hg
state Of prosperity And know their children
after them, too. and mighty fine children they
are. for one Of them is ut this very Zine Gorsrn
or Of the State Of Indiana.