Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-09-15

which had reduced them TO such degree o
poverty and wretckedness, that the master pow
er of rum could hardly send its victim lower.
So Tom and Mag were transformed into Mr.,
and Mrs. Elting, and having grown somewhat
more sober while in the house, seemed to full,
understand their new position, and all the OBJ
legations they had taken upon themselves.
For few days thought occasionally o
this two penny marriage, and then it became
absorbed with a thousand other scenes O
wretchedness which have witnessed since
have lived in this centre of city misery. Time
wore on and married many other couples
often those who came in their carriage and left
golden marriage fee-a delicate way of Civ.
ing TO the needy-but among all had never
performed the rite for couple quite so low as
that of this two penny fee, and | resolved
never would again. At length, however, had
call for match TO them, which | refused.
'Why do yon come to me to be married, my
friend q said TO the man. You are both ter
rible drunkards, know you are.
That is just what we want TO get married
for, and take the pledge
Take that first
No, we must take all together, nothing else
will save u.s.
will thatt'
1t did one of my friends
We'll, then, go and bring that friend here
let me see and hear how much it saved him,
and then 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 evening =
Yes, will stay at home and wait for YOU
little expected to see him again, but about
8 O'Clock the servant said that a man and his
girl, with gentleman and lady, were waiting
in the reception room. told him to ask the
gentleman and lady to walk up to the parlor
and sit moment, while sent the candidates
for marriage away, being determined never to
unite another drunken couple, not dreaming
that there was any sympathy between the par
ties. But they would not come up; they
wanted to see that couple married. So went
down and found the squalidly wretched pair in
company with well dressed laboring man,
for he wore fine black coat, silk vest, gold
watch chain, clean white shirt and cravat, pol
ished caf-skiu boots; and his wife was just as
neat and tidly dressed anybody's wife, and
her face beamed with intelligence, and the way
in which she clang TO the arm Of her husband
as she seemed to shrink from my sight, told
that she was loving as well as pretty wife.
This couple says the gentleman, 'have
come to be married.
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 own image
should live in matrimony like this man and
woman. / cannot marry them
Cannot Why notl You married us
when we were worse of1-more dirty-worse
clothed, and more intoxicated
/ The woman shrunk back little more out
W
put her clean cambric handkerchief up to her
eyes.
What could it mean; Married them when
worse Off Who were they!
Have you forgotten US z said the woman,
taking my hand in hers, and dropping on her
knees; 'we have not forgotten you, but pray
! for you every day.
'If you have forgotten them, you have not
forgotten the two penny marriage. No won
der you did not know u.s. told Matilda she
need not be afraid or ashamed, if you did
know her. But knew you would not How
could you2 We were in rags and dirt then
Look at us now. All your work, sir. All
the blessings of that pledge and that marriage,
and that good advice you gave US. Look at
this suit of clothes, and her dress-all Matil-
da'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 a cradle in our bedroom. Five
hundred dollars already in bank, and | shall
add as much more next week when finish
my job So much for one year of sober life,
and a faithful, honest, good wife. Now this
man is as good a workman as am, only he is
bound down with the CALLING fetters Of drunk
enness, 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 ef-
fort sanctifed with the same blessing, and then
with good resolution, and Matilda and me to
watch over them, do believe thew will sue
ceed.'
So they did. So may others by the same
means. | married them, and as shook hands
with Mr.. 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 it might have been a couple of
dollars this time, but said nothing. and we
parted with mutual God bless YOU. When
| went up stairs | tossed the coins into nv
wife's lap with the remark, two pennies
again, my DEAR "
Two pennies Why, husband, they are
eagles-real golden eagles What deal Of
good they will do. What blessings have fol-
lowed that act'
And will follow the present, if the pledge
is faithfully kent TruIU tbiS e , -