Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-09-23

dollars this morning -
Yes, know it, but L have only got two cents
this evening. There, Mr.. Pease, take them, it is
all have got in the world what more can
give !'
Sure enough, what could he do more l took
| them and prayed over them, that in parting with
the last penny, this couple might have parted
with vice, wicked, foolish practice which had
reduced them to such degree of poverty and
wretchedncss, that the monster power of rum
could hardly send its victims lower.
So Tom and Mag were transformed into Mr..
and Mrs. Elting, and having grown somewhat
more sober while in the house, seemed to fully
understand their new position, and all the obli-
cations they had taken upon themselves.
For few days | thought occasionally OF this
/ two-penny marriage, and then it become absorb
cd with thousand other scenes wretchedness
/ which I have witnessed since have lived in this
centre city misery. Time wore on and l mar
ried many other cOuples-often those who came
in their carriage and left golden marriage fee
a delicate way of giving to the needy-but among
! all had never performed the rite for a couple
quite so low as that of this two-penny fee, and I
resolved l never would again. At length, how
ever, had call for a full match to them, which
| refused.
Why do you come to me to be married, my
friend g. said I to the man. You arc both too
poor to live separate, and besides you are both
terrible drunkards, know you are"
q That is just what want to gctmarried for
and take the pledge
- Take that first
''No, we must take all together, nothing else
Will save u.s."
q VIII that 2"
q 1t did one of my friends"
q Well, then, go and bring that friend here +;
let me see and hear how much it saved him, and
then 1 will make up my mind what to do if
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 cvening?'
g Yes will stay at home and wait for YOU"
little expected to see him again, but about
s O'Clock the servant said that man and his girl,
with gentleman and i9iy, were waiting in the
reception room. ! told him 10 ask the lady and
gentleman to walk up to the parlor and sit mo-
merit, while l 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
would not come up; they wanted TO see that
couple msrried. So went down and found the
squalidly wretched pair in company with a we'll
dressed labOring man, for he wore a fine black
coat, silk vest, gold watch chain, clean white
shirt and cravat, polished calf-skin boots and
his wife was just as neat and tidily dressed as
anybody S WIFE and her face beamed with intelIi-
Il y, -
arm of her husband, as she seemed to shrink
from my sight, told that she was loving as
well as loved WIFE,
q This couple" says the gentleman, '' have
come to be married"
q Yes, 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 image should live in matri-
mony like this man and woman. l cannot mar
~ them.
q Cannot Why not? You married us when
we were worse off-morc dirty-worse clothed.
and more intoxicated
The woman shrunk back, to get the more cut
ofsight. | saw she trembled violently, and put
clean cambrick l,spdkcrchiefup to her eyes.
What could it mean Married when they
were worse off? Who were they2
:. Have you forgotten us ?'' said the woman,
taking my hands in hers, and dropping on her
knees "have you forgotten drunken Tom and
Mag? We have not forgotten you, but pray for
you every day -
q If YOU have forgotten them, You have not for
gotten the two-penny ~ gov,
did not know us. told Matilda she need not
be afraid or ashamed if you did know her But
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
Everything in it to make comfortable home :;
and oh, Sir there is cradle in our bedroom
Five hundred dollars already in bank; and
shall add as much more next week when finish
nv Job. So much for one year of sober life,
and faithful honest, good wife. Now, tins man
/ is as good a workman as l am, only he is bound
down with the CALLING fetters of drunkenness, and
! living with this woman Just as | did. Now, he
thinks that he can reform Just as well as me but
he thinks he must take the pledge of the same
man, and have his first effort sanctifed with the
same blessing, and then, with good resolution
and Matilda and me to watch over them, dc
believe they will succeed"
So they did. So may others by the same means
married them and as l shook hands with ME-
Elting at parting, he left two coins in my hand
with the simple remark that there was another
two-penny marriage fee. was in hope that L
= alla M