The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-09-27

"Why, where is it" says she "you had two
dollars this morning"
Eyes, know it, but have only got two cents
this evening. There, Mr.. Pease take them, it is
all have got in the world: what moro can |
give:"
Sure enough, what could he do more? l took
them and prayed over tllcm that in parting With
the last penny, this couple might have parted
with avice, wicked, foolish practice which might
have reduced them to such adegree Of poverty
and wrctchcdncss, that the monster power of
RIM could hardly send its victims lower.
So Tom and Mag were transferred into Mr..
and Mrs. EItng, and having grown somewhat
more sober while in the house, seemed to fully
understand their new position, and all the obi
cations they had taken upon themselves
For few days thought occasionally OF this
two-penny marriage, and then it become absorb
cd with a thousand other sccnes of wretcheducss
which have witnessed since have lived in this
center of city misery Time wore on and | mar
red many other couples-often those who came
in their carriages and left golden marriage fee
"a delicate way Of giving to the needy-but
among all had never performed the rite for Il
couple quite so low as that of this two-penny
fee, and | resolved never would again. At
length, however had call for full match
to them, which refused.
"Why do you come to me to be married. my
friend 7" said to the man. "loa are both too
poor to live separate, and besides YOU are both
horrible 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 us"
"Will that?"
at did one of my friends"'
"Well, then, go and bring that friend here:
let me hear and see how much it saved him, aud
then will make up my mind to what to do; if
can do you any good want to do it,"
"My friend is at work-he has got good job
aud several hands working for him al d 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 aud his
girl, with a gcntleman and luly were waiting in
The reception room. | told him to ask the lady
and gentleman up to the parlor and 81, a mo-
ment while | 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 married. So went down and found the
>qualidly wretched pair in company with well
dressed iaboring man, for lie wore fine black
coat, silk vest, gold watch and chain, clean white
shirt and cravat, polished calf skin boots and
his wife was just as tidi!y dressed us nybody's
wife, and her face bcamrd with intelligence, and
the way in which she clung to the arm Of her
husband, as she seemed to shrink from my sight,
told that she was loving lis well It's pretty
wife,
"Ihis couple" says tie gentleman, "llave
come to Le married"
"Yes, know.it, butI have refused. Look at
them; do they look like fit subjects for such Il
holy ordinance. God never intended those
whom he created in his own image should live
in matrlnony like this mau and woman. | can-
not marry them
"Cmnot! Why not? You married US when
We were worsc.otf-morc dirty-worse clothed
and more intoxicated"
The woman shrunk back little more out Of
sight saw she tremLled vioentl y, and put Il
clean cambr;c handkerchief up to her eyes.
What could it mean? Married when they
were worse off! Who were they!
"Have YOU forgotten us" said the woman,
taking my hands in hers, and dropping on her
kuccs, "have you forgotten drunken Tom and
Mag? We have not forgotten you, Iutpray for
You every day"
If you have forgotten them, YOU have not
forgotten the two penny marriage No wonder
vou did not know us. ] told Matilda she need
not lie afraid or ashamed il YOU did know her.
But knew you could not. How could you:-
We were in rags and dirt then. Look at us now.
All your work, Slr All the blessing OF that
pldgc and that marriage md that good advice
YOU uavc lis. Look at this suit Of clothes, and
her dress-all Matilda's work, every stitch Of it.
Come and look at our hvusa, as heat rs she Is.
Everything in it to make a home comfortable ;
and oh, Sir, there is Il cradle in our bedroom.
Five hundred dollars already III band, and shall
add as rcuch more next week when | finish my
lob. SO much for one year Of Il sober life, and
a faithful, honest good wife. Now this man is
rs GOOD Il workman rs AM, ouly he is bound
down with the Calling fettrrs OF drunkenness,
and living with this woman Just rs did. Now,
he thinks that he can reform just Us well us me
but he thinks he must have taken the pledge ID
the same man, and his first effort salctited with
the same blessing, and then with good rcsoIu-
liun, and Matilda and me to watch over them, |
do believe they will succeed"
So they did. So may Others by tbs same
means. [ married them, and as Shook hands
with Mr. Elling, at parting, he left two coins in
my hand, with the simple remark that there
was another two.penny marriage fee. was III
hopes that it might have been Il couple Of dollars
this time butt said nothing, and We parted with
mutual God bless YOU When | went up