The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-07-19
Taken at his Word.

|
captain: good steward, and social, re
fined company, made the trip one of plea
sure; indeed long shall I remember tbt
saucy Emily Barton, and her superb liv
ing freight.
One lovely summer afternoon it was
whispered that we were to have wedding
before the boat reached her destination
said whisper started first low and near
the stern, somewhere in the vicinity of the
ladies cabin, and speedily making its way
to the hall, the boiler deck, and then to
the main; like the SNOWFALL rolling down
the mountain, gathering size, form, and
momentum, as it rolled forward until the
principals in the interesting scene were
not only pointed out, but the parson with
some scraps of the history of each fiction,
fact, and surmise, all bushed up iDgen-
iously, leaving one in that half pleasant,
half painful state Of suspense and doubt,
that opens the eyes SO wide and strains
the drum of the ear SO tight to all trans
piring around you.
Well, We landed to wood at a magnif-
cent beech bottom, the tall, heavily leaved
trees with their silver grey trunks making
a deep cool shade, while they, with the
grassy, green bank that bore them, we're
imaged in the CLASSY river, SO clear, SO
true, that inversion only pointed the false
from the real, while cutting this charming
spot in twain, came murmuring crystal
spring brook, scarcely four spans wide, to
lose itself in the mass of Tennessee wa
ters, they in return to be alike lost in the
boundless ocean.
No sooner was the staging out than
there emerged from the ladies cabin a
fine, manly looking fellow, dressed in fault
less taste, intellect beaming in every fea-
ture, while over his face perfect happiness
shone like Phorus on the sea. Leaning
on his arm, was the most loyeable woman
it has ever been my lot to behold, her fine
hazel eyes-teH tales that they we're
speaking deep emotion. and her express
sive lip, quivering with suppressed excite
ment, while her dress, step and grace, was
that of queen.
There they are That's her oh, how
beautiful = burst from many a lip, as We
instinctively made way to let them pass to
the altar, AID where. that was we had about
as clear an idea as a trancendentalists gen.
orally has of what they are talking about
But one thing was fun ahead and to fol-
low in their wake was the way to see it.
AS the ladies passed, a gallant arm was
offered to each, and thus we marched out
of the cabin, down the stairs, across the
staging, and up the sloping bank. Some
fifty yards up the brook the pair stopped,
and joining hands they stood with the clear
water between them-bridged it was by
the twining fingers and crossed by a stream
of lore as pure as itself. All was silent,
still, until broken by the minister reading
in an impressive manner; And of The rib
which the Lord had taken from man,
made he woman and brought her to the
man. Adam said this is bone of my bone
and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called
woman because she was taken out of man.
Therefore shall man cleave unto his
wife, and they shall be one fesh.' He
then closed the good and holy book and
offered most touching and beautiful
praycr-not a heart but seemed to feel
the earnest appeal to the throne of grace.
Then asking the usual questions he pro-
nounced them husband and wife.
The bride slowly sinking on her knees,
raised her beautiful face all covered with
tears,-clasped her hands, and in the
most touching sweet voice, tremulous with
emotion, said:
And now, oh, merciful Father, grant
that our lives thus united may peacefully
flow in one, even, as this rivulet, until we
reach the river of death, undivided in faith
and conduct, and be permitted to enjoy
thine eternal smiles in the land of the
pure and blessed
Every pulse seemed stilled, hoping for
more of this beautiful drama. Not word,
not movement from all that throng-
all, all was happiness. Oh, lovely pano-
rama, how thou art craven on this heart!
The happy man was in the act of imprint
ing kiss upon the smiling lips of his
magnificent bride, when the clear tones Of
manly voice started all from their pleas
ant reVerles: ana the uniVerSai SaZe resi-
ed on a tall, handsome Tennesseean,
whose eagle eye spoke the man fit rep
rescntative of the State where sleeps a
Jackson.
4 can't stand this any longer. | can't
by-pardon ladies, but have PROPOSE
tion to make on the good faith of man
who never lies or trifes. | must make it
or die-so here goes: Now | will marry
on this spot any lady who has the nerve
to face such music. Look at me, and if
you can love me as she loves pointing to
the bride) I'll promise to be husband to
you, such husband as a true hearted
man will make woman who comes
trembling under his wing; | say further,
that no spot of shame attaches to my name,
or ever shall, and this arm shall support
and protect the one that will trust it.
Who'll take mel and his eye ran slowly
and steadily over the crowd of handsome
women around him. His earnest manner
and novel speech had aroused an intense
excitement, all was surprise and deep
sympathy with the fearless, excited ora