The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-26

|GBf 9ailg yonrnal.
EARLY TINES IN INp1ANA.

Said Major Oudesly, as he casually dropped
IN ON US yesterday morning and commenced
talking away in his usual quiet, chatty, and
peculiar manner
"I'm sick and tired of this artificial way of
doing things in these latter days"
'Why 50 Major?"
"There is an eternal sight too much parade
about every thing that is going on. Twas at
la wedding last night; the daughter of an old
and much esteemed friend was to be married
and was so urgently invited that couldn't
help going.
There was so much fuss and parade that 1
was perfectly disguised. Ieould not help COM
pairing the proceedings with marriage which
took place in Lawrenceburg many years ago,
when Indiana formed part of the great North
Western Territory. At that time the settle
ne: rs of the enigrants were mostly confined
10 the rich bottom lands of the water courses.
Lawrenceburg was small village ola few
log cabins My father was acting magistrate
for the district and very promptly attended
to all the various duties Of that Office in addi-
ton to which he was in the habit doing a
great deal of manual labor on his own hook. .
"That was when you wasn't big enough to
do much. Ma5er." es1
| Exactly. I was two-headed brat ofsome
eight or ten years old when the incident am
about to relate took place. but remember all
| the particulars as we'll as ifit had occurred
yesterday. You see it was about dinner time
one day, in the fall when the old man, being
engaged in drawing supply of wood for the
winter, drove up his OK team with pretty
solid load of fuel''
| 'Just then young and unsophisticated
couple entered the village, hand in hand, in
fba At1lx-
| ed to the house. The youth was barefooted
and wore coarse but clean tow-linen shirt and
pants, and rough straw hat of home manu-
tacture. His fair companion was dressed in a
blue cotton frocki pink cotton apron, coarse
bonnet, and brogan shoes, without stockings
"These were their wedding dresses, and
their severe simplicity, and the thorough inde-
pendence they manifested, made an impress
sion upon my mind that will never be effaced.
1--WE have come to get married. said the
young man to the old lady, my mother, who
was properly busy among the pots and ket-
ties.
"Thats very good business" said she, smil-
ing graciously, though you appear to look
very young; but there's the squire just drove
up-he'll splice you in less than no time.''
$50 out she bolted to give the fortunate
functionary due notice of the important busi-
ness in hand.
81 can't stop till 1 unload this wood" said
the old man; tell them to come out here"
Out they went.
The old man was on top OF the cart, and
every time he threw offa stick he asked ques-
ton Before he was fairly unloaded he had
the youths whole story, having ascertained
the names, ages, and residence of the parties
how long he had known the young woman, if
he really loved her, and was willing to labor
honestly to promote her happiness, etc.
The youngster gave simple and satisfactory
answers to all the questions propounded.
/ In the meantime, the old lady, perfectly
understanding dads way ofdoing things, had
sent out to say to the people that wedding
was coming off at the house; and by the time
the wood was unloaded, quite crowd had
collected to witness the ceremony.
! The old fellow, having picked up his long
gcad, stood up in the cart and commenced the
performances.
JEST jine hands said he to the young couple
| 1t was done accordingly.
81 am satisfied with both ofye," he contin-
ued you'vea perfect right to get married. and
he united them in short order.
Gas the rafters on this house are jined to-
gether so iine you-you are man and wife
salute your bride. Don't charge you anything
for the operation. Wo haw, Buck-get along
Bright
i With an eloquent flourish of his long stick
he started for another load Of wood, leaving
the welded pair amid the villagers kissing
each other with a very distinct and peculiar
satisfaction,
That was a wedding worth having" con-
tinued Major Oudesley; II knew the couple
afterwards, and know them yet, for they are
! | know their children after them too, and
mighty fine children they are, for one of then
at this very time is Governor of the State O
Indiana"