Washington telegraph., 1853-04-13
A Candidate for MatrimCny;
Or, Waiting for the Bride.

During the last summer a little incident
transpired in one of the eastern towns, which
afforded some amusement to the spectators
at the time, and furnished food for consid-
cradle gossip thereafter. 1t occurred in
church, on one of these quietESunday after
Moons, when. all the world seems ready to
drop asleep; when the flies buzz lazily on the
window panes, and the dog lies on the door
stone.
The afternoon service had ended, and the
congregation were arranging themselves for
the berediction, when to the great astonish-
ment and manifest interest Of the worship
ers, th. good paSson descended from the
pulpit to the desk below, and said in a calm,
clear voice. "those wishing to be united in
the holy bonds of matrimony, will now
please to come forward" A deep silence
instantly fell over the congregation, broken
only by the rustling of silk as some pretty
little girl or excited matron changed her
position, to catch the first view of the couple
to be married No one, however, arose, or
seemed the least inclined to rise. Whereup-
on, the worthy clergyman, deeming his first
notice unheard or misunderstood, repeated
the invitation:
'Let those wishing to be united in the
holy bonds Of matrimony, now come for
ward"
Still no one stirred The silence became
almost audible, and q painful sense Of the
awkvardness of the position was gradually
spreading among those present, when a
yourg gentleman who had occupied vacant
slip in the aisle during the service, slowly
arose, and deliberately walked to the foot
of the altar. lie was good-looking and
well dressed, but no one present knew
him, and no female accompanied his trav-
els When he arrived within respec-
table distance of the clergyman, he paused,
and with reverent bow stepped to one side
of the aisle, but neither said anything or
seemed at all Disconnected at tie idea of be-
ing married atone. The clergyman looked
anxioas!y around for the bride, who lie sup
posed was yet to arrive, and at length re-
marked to the young gentleman in an under
tone.
The lady, sir, is dilat0ry.
avery, sir
Had we not better defer the ceremo-
ny"
Il think not. Do you suppose she will
be here soon?"
"NIe sir, said the astonished shepherd
show should l know of your lady's move
ments! That is matter belonging to your
self"
A very few moments more were suffered
TO elapse in this unpleasant state of expec-
fancy, when the clergyman renewed his in
terrogatories:
Did the lady promise to attend at the
present hour, sir ?"
What lady %
Why, the lady, to be sure, that you are
waiting here for
81 did not hear anything about it." was
the satisfactory response.
"Then. sir, may | ask, why you are here,
and for what purpose you trifc in the sane
tuary of the Most High" said the somewhat
enraged clerical.
Il came, sir, simply because you invited
those wishing to be united in the holy bonds
of matrimony to step forward, and | hap
pened to entertain such wish l am sor-
ry to have misunderstood you, sir, and wish
you very good day"
The benediction was uttered with solem-
nifty of tone, very little in accordance with
the twitching of the facial nerves; and when,
after the church was closed, the story got
wind among the congregation, more than
one little girl regretted that her wishes had
not been as boldly expressed as the young
gentleman's who had really wished to be
united in the holy bonds Of matrimony."