The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-12-20
LIFE AT THE FIVE POINTS.
THE TWO.PENNY MARRIAGE.

want TO DC marrled-what for.
why you see, we don't think it is right for
US to be living together in this way any longer,
and we have been talking over tho matter to
day. and you soc -
Yes, yes, see you have boon talking over
the matter over the bottle, and have come TO
drunken conclusion 10 get married. When
you get sober you will both repent of it, prob
ablv.'
No, sir, we arc not very drunk just now. not
so drunk but what we can think, and we don't
think we are doing right-wo arc not doing
as we wero brought up to do by pious parents.
We have been reading about the good thing s
you have doi for just such poor outcasts as
wo arc, and we want you TO try and do some
thing for us
Read Can you reads Do you read tho
Bible?
We'll, not much lately. but we read the
newspapers, and sometimes wc read something
good in them. How can we read tho Bible
when we are drunk
DO you think getting married will keep you
from getting drunk?
Yes, for wo are going 10 tsko the pledge
too, and wo shall keep it, depend upon that
Suppose you take the pledge, and try that
first, and if you can keep it till you can wash
some of the dirt away. and get some clothes
on then will marry YOU
No; that won't do / shall get 10 thinking
what poor, dirty. miserable wretch am. and
how am living with this woman who is not
bad woman by nature, ana then will drink.
and then she will drnk-ob, cursed rumi-
and what is to prevent US: But if wo were
married, my wilo. yes, Mr. Pease. nv wife,
would not say 'Tom-you dirty brute. don't be
tempted; and who knows but we might be
so ebony yet-somebody that our own moth
ers would not be ashamed Of
Here the woman, who had been silent and
rather moody, burst into flood of tears, crying
"Mother, mother, know not whether she is
alive or not, and dare not inquire: but If we
were married and reformed. ] would make her
happy ence more could no longer stand
the appeal, said Mr.. p, and determined to give
them trial. | have married good many
poor. wretched looking couples, but mono that
looked so much o as this Tie man was hat
less and shoeless, without coat or vest, with
long hair and beard grimed with dirt He
was by trade bricklayer, ono of the best in
the city. She wore the last remains OF silk
bonnet, and something that might pass for
shoes, very old dress, once a rich merno, ap-
parently without any under garment
And your name is Thomas-Thomas WHAT
'EiNng, sir. Thomas EIiing, good true
uame and true man, that is, shall be il you mar
ry us
We'll, well. Tn going to marry you.'
Are you! There. Mag told you so'
Don't call me Mag. if am going to be
married l will be by my right name, the one
my mother gave me-
Not Mag. Well, never knew that
Now, Thomas, hold your tongue, you talk
too much
what is your namcr
Matilda Must l tell the other? Yes, |
VIII, and | never will Disgrace it. don't |
think ever shonld have been So bad if | had |
Kept 1t That bad woman who who first
tempted me to ruin, mado mo take a false
name. II is a bad thing for girl to give up !
her name. unless for that of good husband |
Matilda Fraley. Nobody knows me by that
name in this bad city.
Very well, Matilda and Thomas. take each
other by the right hand, and look at me. for
am now going To unite you in the holy bonds
of marriage by Gods ordinance. Do Won think ,b;nS
you are sufficiently sober to comprehend its
'Yes SIR
Marriage being one of Gods holy ordnan-
ces, cannot be kept in sin, misery, filth and
drunkenness. Thomas, will You take Matilda
to be Your lawful, true only welded wifeY
Yes, SIR
You promise that you will live with her. in
sickness as well as health; nourish. protect and
comfort her as your true and faithful wife; that
gou wilt be 10 her true and faithful husband;
hat you will not get drunk, and will c!othe
Tourself and keep clean
so I will
!, 'Neyer,min answering until get through.
You promise TO abstain totally from every kind .
u drink that intoxicates. and treat this woman
kindly, afeciionately, and love her as hus-
'and should love his welded wife, Now all Is
u this, will you before me as as a servant of
he Most hgh-here in the sight of God In !
ieayen, most faithfully promise, If give you '
bis woman to be your welded wife? s
yes, 4 will
And you, Matilda, on your part, will YOU
'romise the same, and be true wife to this
nanf - i
a will try, sir q
but but do you promise all this, faithfully u
Yes. slr, ! wil'
linen pronounce you man and wife,
now. Thomas says the new wife, after l | I
'ad maae out tho certificate and given IL 10 | =