Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-21
LIFE Ar THE FIVE POINTS.
THE Two-PENNY MARRIAGE.
.Mr. Pease. we want 70 be N arried.' p

way any longer, and we have been talk
ing over the matter to day and you see
-"
"Yes, yes,I see you have been ia king
over the matter over the bottle and have
come to sort of drunken conclusion to
get married. When you get sober you
will both repent Of il, probably"
"No, sir, we are not very drunk, now
not so drunk but we can think, and we
don't think we are doing right-we
are not doing as we were brought up to
do by pious parents. We have been
reading about the good things you have
done for just such poor outcasts as we
are and we want you to try and do somc-
thing for US"
"Readl Can you read! Do youread the
BibleP'
swell, not much lately, but we read
the newspaper and sometimes we read
something good in them. How can
we read he Bible when we are
drunkr'
"Do you think getting married will
keep you from getting drunk!
eyes, for we are going to take the
pledge, and we shall keep t,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. I shall get to
thinking what poor miserable dirty
wretch am. and how am living with
this weman who is not bad woman, by
nature, and then will drink-oh, cursed
rum!-and what is to prevent US! But
il we were married, my wife, yes, Mr..
Pease, my wife would say, Thomas -
she would not saysTom-you dirty brute
don't be tempted;' and who knows but
we might be somebody yet--somebody
that our own mothers would not be u
shamed Of"
Here the woman who had been silent
and rather moody, burst into food Of
tears. crying "Mother, mother, know
not whether she is alive or not, and dare
not inquire; but il we were married and
reformed, would be happy once
mSre"
II could no longer Withstand the ap-
peal" said Mr p, "and determined
to rive them trial. | have married
gosi many poor wretched looking cou-
pies, but none that looked quite SO much
81 as this. The man was hatless and
moeless, without coat or vest, with
iong hair, and beard grimmed with dirt.
He was by trade brick-ldyer, one OF
the best in the city. She wore the last
remains Of silk bonnet, ami som ,thinI
that might pass for shoes, and an old,
very old dress. once rich merino, appa-
rently without any under glrmcnt,."
.,'And your n1ms is Thomas -Tnomls
fwhatl'
'EIling,sir, Thomas Elting,a good true
name and true man, that is. shall be il
you marry u.s."
"WelI, we'll. | am going to marry
YOU"
"Are you'll There, Mag.I told you
So"
Don't call me Mag. IL am going to
be married, I viii be by my right name,
the one my mother gave me-"
mot Mag. Well, never knew
that"
Now, Thomas, hold your tongue; you
talk too much"
WHAT'S your namsl"
Matilda. Must tell the other! Yes,
I will, and ] will never disgrace il. !
don't think should ever have been as bad
II I had kept Il. That bad woman who
first tempted me to ruin made me take
false name. II is bad thing for girl
TO give up her name, unless for that Of
good husband. Matilda Fraley. No
body knows me by that name in this bad
city"
avery 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 or
dinance. Do you think you are sutfi-
ciently sober to comprehend Its solem-
nityp
"Yes, SIR"
"Marriage being one Of Gods holy
ordinances, cannot be kept in sin, misery
Nth and drunkenness. Thomas will you
take Matilda to be your lawful true only
welded wifel'
ayes, SIR"
"Promse that you willlive with her,
In sickness as we'll as health, and nour-
ish and protect, and comfort her as your
true and faithful wife, that you will be
20 her true and faithful husband; that
you will not get drunk, and will clothe
yourself and keep clean"
$50 wills
"Never mind answering until get
through. You promise to abstain total
ly from every kind Of drink that intoxi-
Gates, and treat this woman kindly ,afTec.
tionately, and love her as man should
love his welded wife. Nov, all Of this,
willyo here, be fore me, as the servant
OF the Most Hgh--here In the sight OF
God In Heaven, most faith fully promise,
II give you this woman to be your we'd.
dod wifoi" tIE
Yes, I WILL"
And you, Matilda, on your part, will
you promise the same, and be true wife
20 this mani"
will try, sir
'Bu. do you promise all this faithfully.
Yes sir, wlll.'
Then pronounce you man aud wife,
Now. Thomas,' said the new wife
after had made out tho certificate an,
given Il to her, with an injunction 4
keep II safely, Nov pay Mr.. Pease,a
lot us 90 homo aud break the bottle.
Thomas felt FIRST In the right han'
pocket. then the left, then back to th'
right, then he examined the wateh.fob.
why, where ls H. says she, you ha'
two dollars this morning.
Yes, know Il, but have only 90
two cents this evening. There, Mr
Pease. take them II IL all have got Il
the world. What more can giye~
Sure enoughIwhat could he do more
took them and prayed over them tina
In parting with the last penny this cou
pie might have parted with viee,a wick
cd. foolish practice, VIII lch had reduce
them TO such degree Of poverty an
wotehedness that the monster power O
rum could hardly send ita victim lower
30 Tom and Mag were transforme
Into Mr.. aud Mrs. El'lng, and hayin