Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-03-22
VOL. 2. NO. %.
Marriage Under Difficulties.

Afew days since was present at a marriage
which had some things about it so new and
romantic that am tempted TO give you a short
description For day and night preceding
the appointment, there had been an incessant
fall Of rain, which added to the deep snow in
the mountains, caused a rapid rise of the
water Parson B, of Bath county, had
been invited to perform the ceremony Anti
cipatng dificulty-and, perhaps. remembers
ing defeat in days Of yore, he set out from
home early IN the morning, with the hope of
passing the water-course before they were too
full Vain hope. When he reached the
neighborhood, be was told that the river was
swollen beyond any possibility of crossing with
any safety. 1t is often hard to start wed.
ding, butwhen started, iii q great deal harder
TO stop it. The parson having secured the
company of friend III the neighborhood, de-
termined to make every effort to accomplish
his mission, and if there must be failure, let
it be after a fair trial BY circultous route,
he and his companion succeeded in reaching
the bank of the river. opposite to and only a
few hundred yards distant from the house
A loud halloo soon brought the wedding party
to parley on the bank of the river Thg-
whole difficulty was before them; the parson
could not advance a step further without
swimming a dangerous mountain torrent,
covered with huge sheets of floating ice
But :. whero there is a viii there is way
though there be neither bridge nor boat.
1t was proposed that the parson should
marry them across the rolling food. This
proposition was acceded to Yet the parson
declared that il beloved them TO act lawfully,
and insisted ON his warrant being transmitted
to his hands. Happily for US in this free
country, the law does not prescribe how this
is to be accomplished, neither does it state at
what distancethe officiating officer shall stand.
Iu this case the license was bound close round
a stone Of suitable size, and the whole being
wrapped with thread so as to make it tight
and compact was thrown across the river
The feat of throwing it was performed by the
bridegroom, while his young bride was STAN
ding by him. And it was throw with
hearty good viii. That man knew he was
throwing for wife, and the only question
with him was wife or no wife. There stood
the anxious group-what suspense it might
mscarry-it might be turned by some over
hanging limb, and find watery grave
With powerful swing of the arm it started.
and mounting high, took its onward and airy
fight L had learned long before, that
:. whatever goes up must come down" but
felt some lnisgiving as towhere the come down
might be in this case The moment of sus-
pense was soon over The little missile.
freighted with document so important, sped
its way through the air in a most beautiful
arch, high over the wide waters, snd shout
of triumph announced its fall upon terra irma
To unwrap and read was the work of mo-
ment. The parties were already arranged,
with joined hands. and Parson B, with un-
covered head, stood as gracefully and as light
| ly too, as he could upon quicksand at the
4 edge of the river, and with voice distinctly
heard above the roar of waters the marriage
was consummated. Well pleased at so favor
able termination Of what little before had
been forlern hope the groups on either
bank took off their several ways. Whatever
else may forget, never can forget that
4 utr0u