Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1853-05-19
A CANDIDATE FOR KATRLKoYY;
Or WaiAna for Ae Bride

Or WaitHg for he BRIDE
During the last summer little incident trans
pired in one Of the Eastern towns, which afIor
ded some amusement to the spectators at the
time, and furnished food for a considerable gos.
sip thereaflerl Il occurred in church, on one o
those quiet Sunday afternoons, 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.
TheafternoOn service had ended, and the con.
gregation were arranging themselves for the
benedictiOn, when 10 the great astonishment and
manifest interest Of the wOrshipers, the good
parsOn descended from the pulpit TO the desk be
low, and said in a calm, clear voice, "those
wishing to be united in the holy bands Of mat
rimony. will please TO come forward" A deep
silence instantly fell over the congregation, bro
ken only by the rustling Of silk as some pretty
little girl or excited matron changed her posi-
ton, TO catch the first view Of the couple to be
married No one, however, arose, or seemed
the least inclined 10 arise Whereupon, the
worthy clergyman, deeming his first notice un-
heard or misunderstood, repeated the invita-
ton:
Let those wishing to be united in The holy
bands of matrimony, now come forward"
Sill no one stirred. The silence became al
most audible, and painful scene ofthe awkward
ness of the position was gradually spreading a.
mong those present, when young gentleman,
who had occupied vacant slip in the broad
aisle during the service, slowly arose, and de-
liberatey walked to the foot of the alter He
was goodlOoking, and we'll dressed, but no
one present knew him, and no female accom-
panied his travels When arrived within a
respectable distance of the clergyman, he paus-
ed, and with reverent bow stepped to one side
of the aisle, bnt neither said any thing or SEEM
ed at all disconnected at the idea of being mar
ried oloae. The clergyman looked anxously
around for the bride, who he supposed was yet
to arrive, and at length remarked to the young
gentleman in an under tone
"The lady, sir, is dilatory"
Every, SIR"
clad we not better defer the ceremony"
Il think not. Do you suppose she will be
here soon|'
"Me' SIR" said the astonished shepherd,
+" how should know Of your lady's move
ments? That is a matter belonging to your
self"
A very few moments more were sufft red 10
eapse in this unpleasant state of expectancy,
when the clergyman renewed his in'errOga-
.ories
"Did the lady promise to attend at the pres
INT 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
response.
-,fHeH, str, HIUy l OSh, why y0U hvrV,
md for what purpose you trihe in the sanctua-
y of the Most High p said the somewhat enra-
red clerical.
81 came, sir, simply because you invited
hose wishing to be united in The holy bands of
natrimony to step forward, and happened to
such wish! am very sorry 10 have
misunderstood you, sir, and wish you very
,ood day"
The benedicton was uttered with a solemni-
y of tone, very little in accordance with The
witching of the facial nerves; and when after
he church was closed the story got wind among
he congregation, more than one little girl re-
yreted that h ,r wishes had not been as boldly
expressed as the young genteman's, who had
-eally wished to be ''unted in the holy bands
Of matrimony."