The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-02-26

Mary gave decisive nod. Mr.. Burton
added few words more, and pronounced
them man and wife. Mary wiped her
eyes and George drew long breath
The Clergyman then made out his mar
rage certificate; to which the witnesses
put ther names, and ended bv .pivino
them TO the newly married couple, toge.
ther with few words of advice. At the
same time George slipped something into
hls hand, done up in piece of white pa
per. Afterwards, the bride and DE bride
groom rode off in the chaise; the house
keeper went to the kitchen laughmp.-
Burton returned to his books, and the
clergyman to mis- sermon.
As the latter sat down to write, think
ing OF the queer marriage ceremony he
had just performed, he listlcssIv uufobIcd
the bit OF paper the bridegroom had
placed in his hands. Perhap, tue preach
er was curious to know how much SO odd
a man had felt able to pa for his mar
riage certificate.
From the size of the piece, Mr.. Burton
Judged that his fee must be something
handsome. 1t was larger than Il II ,ifca,
gle, larger even than an eagle. Could it
be twenty dollar piece? Ine pabcr be-
ing folded and rcfolded, it was SOME time
before the clergyman could get 1T the coin.
His curiosity by this time was considerably
excited. At length lie saw some,hin;,
glitter. 1t was new, red-CuNr. Mr.
Burton was little disappointed, ....
laughing at the ludicfous mistake. l,.
locked the cent up in his De-, and dc. c...,
cd himself to his sermon during IL, r..-
maindcr of the forenoon.
SNyears passed away. The suoccs .rll
clergyman was one evening SURPRISED Nv
visit from n stranger. 4 handson =
dressed fine looking man Gltod his Lax.
bowed respectfully, and offered Ny. T,u-
ton his hand.
"lo our memory is better N.au rl;a,. l.:
we have ever met before" $ai3 the CIR
gyman.
my name is George Chambers"
MIR. Burton had forgotten that ho lai
ever known such an individua.
Il think | can refresh your Yncmory f.,
mentioning an incident" said George.
"Do you remember marrying couple. ..l
years ago, and receiving for your jfou'.r
the fec of one cent?"
Mr.. Burton laughed, went 70 his desk.
and took from small drawer little RI
of paper. Unfolding this, lie produced
the copper in question.
"4cs, | remember all about it now"
"Well, sir, am the man"
81 remember your countenance."
you undoubtedly suppose intended
to insult you:"
No. thought YOU were po,r."
80 was. l did not know that
could afford to give YOU any more. Ma
rlagc. you know, is sort of lottery. Ilad
| given You five or ten dollar, and got Il
poor wife in return, you must confess it
would have been miserable hargain.-
Well, sir, the wife you gave lnc j. prizc.
1t has taken me six years t. find oIt all
her virtues, and now have comato maxi
you suitable acknowledgment"
lie placed purse in the hands of the
astonishcu minister, who hcsi,a;cd toac-
cept it.
"You need not scruple to take it; thanks
to my wife, | am now a tolcrably rich
man."
The odd bridegroom took l.;@ departure
Mr. Burton examined the contents of the
purse with lively curiosity; and he was
not little surprise and gratifcd to find
that they consisted of ten halt-caglcs,
bright, sllining-apparently fresh from the
mint.
And that was the last the clergyman
ever heard of the bridegroom.