Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-05-08
BY COVER Sc GOLDSMITH. !
Getting Married.

The New Orleans Ptc0uune relates a
little incident which trans PRED in one o.
the Eastern towns last summer 1t nc-
cured IN church on one of those quiet al
ternoons when all the world seems rea-
dy 10 drop as eep; when the flies buzz
iazily on the window panes, and the dog
lies on the door-stone. The afternoon
service had ended, and the congregation
were arranging themselves for the ben
edlctlon, when, to the great astonishment
and the manifest interest of the worship
pers, the good parson descended from
the pulpit 10 the desk below, and said,
in calm, clear voice: Those wishing
to be united in the holy bonds of matri-
inony, will now please to come forward"
A deel stiffness instantly fell over the
congregation, broken only by the rust
ling of silk, as some pretty girl or excl
ted matroI. changed her position, TO catch
the first view Of the couple to be mar
ried. No one, however, arose, or seem
ed in the least inclined to arise. Where
upon the worthy clergyman, deeming his
first notice unheard, or misunderstood
repeated the invitation: Let those
wishing TO be united in the holy bonds
OF mairlnony, now come forward. y
Still no one stirred. The silence be-
came almost audible, and painful sens
OF the awkwardness of the position was
gradually spreading among those present,
when young gentleman who had occu-
pied vacant seat in the broad aisle du-
ring the service, slowly arose, and de-
liberately walked to the foot of the al
tar. He was good-looking and well
dressed, but no one knew him, and no
female accompanied his travels. When
he arrived within respectable distance
of the clergyman, he paused, and with a
reverent bow, stepped TO one side Of the
aisle; but neither said anything, nor
seemed al all disconnected at the idea of
being married alone. The clergyman
looked anxiously around for the bride,
who, he supposed, was yet to arrive, and
at length remarked to the young gentle
man in an under tone: 1.-The lady, sir.
Is dilatory ?"-"Very, sir. Had we
not better defer the ceremony ?"-''l
think not. Do you suppose she will be
here soon?"-"Me, sir - said the as
tonlshed shepherd show should | know
OF your lady's movements That is
matter belonging to yourself ?" A few
moments more were suffered to elapse
i'll this unpleasant state Of expectancy.
when the clergyman renewed his inter-
roga'ories: Did the lady promise 10
attend at the present hour, sir ?"-
"What lady ?"-"Why the lady, TO be
sure, that You are waiting here for. -
Il did not hear her say anything abont
H." was the unsatisfactory response
s'Ti. -, ;----3- L. i-iJ
and for what purpose you trifle with me
in this manner 20 said the somewhat en-
ragged clerical, Il come, sir, simply be-
cause you invited all those wishing TO
be united in the holy bonds OF III; trimo-
ny to step forward, and | happened TO
entertain such a wish am very sor-
ry 10 have misunderstood you, sir, and
wish you very good day." The ben
ediction was uttered with solemnity Of
tone very little in accordance with the
twtching of the facial nerves ; and when.
after the church was closed, the story
got wind among the congregation, more
than one girl regretted that her wishes
had not been as boldly expressed as the
young geutleman's, who had really wish
ed to be ''united in the holy bonds OF
matrimony."