The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-09-29

"That is just what we want to get
married for, and take the pledge"
"Take that first"
) "No, we must take all together, no
thing else will save u.s."
"Will that ?"
at did one of my friends
"Well, then, 60 and bring that friend
here let me see and hear how much it
saved him, and then I will make up my
mind what to do; if l can do you any
good | want to do it,"
"My friend is at work-he has got
good job and several hands working for
him, and is making money, and won't
quit till night. Shall | come this eve
ning;"
" Yes, will stay at home and wait
for you"
little expected to see him again, but
about 8 o'clock the servant said man
and his girl, with gentleman and lady
were waiting in the reception room. l
told him to ask the gentleman and lady
to walk up to the parlor and sit mo-
ment, while | sent the candidates for
marriage away, being determined never
to unite another drunken couple, not
dreaming that there was any sympathy
between the parties. But they could
not come up; they wanted to see that
couple married. So went down and
found the squalidly wretched pair in
company with a well-dressed laboring
man, for he wore fine black coat, silk
vest, gold watch chain, clean white shirt
and cravat, polished calf-skin boots and
his wife was just as tidily dressed as any
body's wife, and her face beamed with
intelligence, and the way in which she
clung to the arm of her husband, as she
seemed to shrink from my sight, told
that she was a loving as well as pretty
wife.
" This COUPLE" says the gentleman,
"have come to be married"
eyes, l know it, but have refused.
Look at them; do they look like fit
subjects for such holy ordinance :
God never intended those whom he
created in his own image should live in
matrimony like this man and woman. l
cannot marry them"
"Cannot! Why not E? You married
us when we were worse of-more dirty
worse clothed, and more intoxicseed." :"
The woman shrunk back little out
Of sight. l saw she trembled violently
and put her clean cambric handkerchief
to her eyes.
, What could it mean? Married them
when worse off? Who were they'
, "Have you forgotten us :" said the
woman, taking my hand in hers, and
dropping on her knees: " Have you
forgotten drunken Tom and Mag? We
have never forgotten you, but pray for
5 you every day."
eff you have forgotten them, you
have not forgotten the two-penny mar
riage. No wonder you did not know
us. I told Matilda she need not be
f ashamed or afraid, if you did know
, her. But l knew you would not. How
could you' We were in rags and dirt
then. Look at us now. All your
work, sir. All the blessing of that
, pledge and that marriage, and that good
/ advice you gave US. Look at this suit
of clothes, and her dress--all Matilda's
work, every stitch of it. Come and look
= at our house, as neat as she is. Every
thing in it to make a comfortable home
and oh, sir, there is cradle in our
j bedroom. Five hundred dollars in the
bank, and l shall add as much more
), next week when l finish my job. So
d much for one year Of sober life and a
p faithful, honest, good wife. Now this
It man is as good workman as l am, only
y he is bound down with the CALLING fetters
t, of drunkenness, and living with this
t, woman just as I did Now he thinks he
can reform just as we'll as me; but he
u thinks he must take the pledge of the
some man, and have his first effort sane
It tilted with the same blessing, and thcr
:. with a good resolution, and Matilda an(
q me to watch over them, do believe
they will succeed"
: SO they did. So may others by the sam'
It meansImarried them,and asIshook hand
is with Mr.. Elting at parting, he left tw'
a coins in my hand, with the simple re
d mark that there was another two-penn,
= marriage fee. was in hopes that i
'r might have been couple of dollars tbi
G time, but said nothing, and we parte
with the mutual God bless you. Whe
ID | went up stairs l tossed the coins int
y my wite's lap, with the remark, "tw
ie pennies again my dear"
III ~ "Two pennies Why, husband ,lthe
y are eagles--rcal golden eagles. Wha
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