The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-12-20

4
right. then he examined the watch fob
Why, where is it? says she you had two dol
lars this morningp 'Yes know it, but have
only got two cents this evening. There Mr.
Pease take thom, il is all have got in the
world; what more can giyer
Sure enongh, what could he do more?
took them. and prayed over them, that in part
ing 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 translated into
Mr.. Mrs. Eliing, and having grown somcwha,
moro sober while IN the house, seemed to fully
understand their position, and oil the obligs-
tions they had taken upon themselves. For a
few days thought occasionally of this two
penny marriage, aud then it became absorbed
with thousand other scenes of Indebtedness
which have witnessed since have lived in
this center of city misery. Time wore on and
l married other conples-often those who
came in their carriage and left golden mar
riage fee--a delicate way of giving 10 the nee.
dy-but among ALI had never performed the
rite for couple quito so low as that of this
two-penny fec, and resolved never would
again. AT length, however, had call for a
full match to them. which refused.
why you come to me to be married. nv
friend? said to the man. you arc both too
poor to live separate. and besides YOU arc both
terrible drunkards, know yon are
That is just what we want TO get married
for. and take the pledge.
Take that first
No, wo must take all together, nothing else
will save u.s.
'Will thatf
1T did one of my friends.
We'll, then, GO and bring that friend here:
let mo see and hear how much il saved him
and then will make up my mind what to do;
ifI can do yon any good want to do it,
My friend is at work-he has got o good
job and several hands working for him. and is
making money and won't quit till night. Shall
l come this eveningF
Yes, will stay at homo and wait for you.'
Il little expected to see him again, but about
o'clock the servant said that man and his
girl, with gentleman and iady were waiting
in the reception room. / told him to ask the
gentleman and lady to walk up to tho 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 world not come: thew wanted
TO SEQ that couple married. So went down
and fonnd the squalidly wrctched pair in com
pany with well dressed laboring man, for he
wore fine black coat, silk vest, gold watch
chain. clean white shirt and cravat. polished
calf skin boots: and his wife was lust as neat
and tidily dressed as anybody's wife. and her
face beamed with intelligence, and the way in
which she clung to the arm Other husband, as
she seemed TO shrink from my sight. told that
she was loving as well rs pretty wife.
This couple said the gentlemen. Have
come TO be married.
Yes. know it, but have refused. Look
at them: do they look like fit subjects for such
a holy ordinance? God never intended those
whom he created in his own image should live
in matrimony lii this man and woman. II
cannot marry them
'Cannotl Why not? You married US when
we were worse of-more dirty-worso clothed,
aud more intoxicated
The woman shrunk back little more out of
sight saw sho trembled violently. and mt |
ner clean cambrc handkerchief 10 her evesI- !
W hat could it mean? Married them when
worse off? Who were they?'
Have you forgotten us: said tho woman
akng my hands in hers, and dropping OH her
knees; have you forgotten drunken Tom and
Nag! We have never forgotten YOU, but
,ray for you every dav.'
If you have forgotten them, you have not
orgotten the two, penny marriage No won
Ter you did not know us. told Matilda she
iced not be afraid. or ashamed. if YOU did
;now her. But know you would not. How
'onld you? We were in rags and dirt them
look at us now. All your work, sir. All tho
blessings of that pledge, and that good advice
'ou gave us. Look at this suit of clothes. and
Ter dress-all Matilda's work. every stich of
I. Como and look at her house. as neat as
he is. Everything in it to make a comforta-
ne nome, and oh. sir, there is cradle in oui /
edroom. Five hundred dollars already in the
ank, and shall add as much more next week
shen finish my job. So much for one wear
v sober life, and faithful. honest. good wife.
Sow, this man is as good a workman as / am
MY he is bound down with tho CALLING fetters
Il drLnkness, and living with this woman. lust
S Gid. Now, he thinks that he can reform
ist as well as me; but he thinks he must take
he pledge of the same man. and have his first
fort sanctiied with the same blessing and
hen, with good resolution, and Matilda and
ne TO watch over them, do believe they will
ucceed.
So they did. So may others by tho same
neans. married them, and as shook
ands with Mr.. Elting ot parting, he loft two
ONES IN my hrnd with the simple remark that
here was another two-penny marriage fee I
as IN hopes that il might have been a couplo
dollars this time; but said nothing, and we
arted with mutual God bless you. When
ent up stairs tossed the coins into nv wife's
'p, with the remark, two pennies again. my
ar .
Two pennies! Why. husband, they are
'gles--real golden eagles. What deal of ,
ood they will Do. What blessings have fol-
WED that act :.
And will follow the present, if the pledge is :
nhInlly kept Truly this is good result of a
10 Two-Penny Marriage !
A Cow FOR THREE TnovsAND DOLLARS Il
oil. Thorne. of Wnshinnton uollnu, n,..aL