The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
Marriage under Difficulties.

A lew dsts siuce | was present at q
marriage which had some shines about il
SO new ard romsniic that am.tempted
10 give you short description For a
day and sight preceding The appointment.
lhere-hsd 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
Anticipating difficulty. and. perhaps, re-
,nembering defeat in the days Of yore, he
set out from home early in the morning.
with the hope OF passing the water Courses
before they were too full. Vain hope.
When he reached the neighborhood, ne
was told that the river was swollen be-
yond any possibility Of crossing with
| safety. Il is often hard TO start a wed
ding. but when started. it is great deal
harder TO stop it, The parson having se.-
cured the company OF a friend in the
lneighborheod, determined to make every
effort to accomplish bis mission. and if
there must he q failure, lei ii be alter q
fair trial.
panion succeeded in reaching the bank
Of the river opposite to and only few
hundred yards distant from the house A
loud halo soon brough, the wedding par
~ to q parley on the bank of the river.
The whole difficulty was before them; the
lparson could not advance step further
wilhou, swimming dangerous mountain
torrent covered with huge sheets Of float.
ling ice. But "where there is q will there
| is q way" though there be neither bridge
nor boat. Il was proposed tha, the par
son should marry them acrsss the rolling
food. This proposition was acceded 10.
Yet the pa-son declared that it behooved
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 ac-
complished; neither does il state at what
distance the officiating officer shall stand.
In this case the license was bound close
lround 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 ii
was performed by the bride groom. while
his young bride was standing by him.
And it was throw with a hearty good
will. That man knew he was throwing
for wifayand the only question with him
was. vile or no wife.
Il There stood the anxious group-whai
i suspense! itmight miscarry,-it nigh, be
turned by some oyerhanging limb, and
find a water grave! With a powerful
! swing of the arm il started and mounting
high took its onward and airy fight.
!, had learned long before, that whatever
kgoes up must come down" !" but felt some
misgiyings as 10 where the comedown
might be in this case. The moment o
suspense was soon over. The little mis-.
sile, freighted with document SO import
ant. sped lis way through the air in a
most beautiful arch, high over the wide
waters, and shout of triumph announc.
ed its fall upon terra frma. To unwrar
and read was the work Of moment
j The parties were already arranged. with
Joined hands. and Parson B.. with uncov
cred head. stood as graceful and as light
lily too, as he could upon q quicksand a
The edge of the river. and with voice
distinctly heard above the roar of waters
The marriage was cnnsummated. Wei
pie ased at so favorable termin alton o
! what a little before had been a forlorr
Hope, the groups on either bank took of
/ their several ways. Whatever else maj
Target, never. can forget that throw.
il Staunton Va.) Spectator.