Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-02-21
For the SPECTATOR.
y" Il Ut t'tO
Marriage Extraordinary.

.Hessrs Editors "A few days since was pres
ent at marriage which had some things abun
II so new and romantic that | am tempted to givt
you short description. For day and nigh
preceding the appointment, there had been an in
cessant fall of ran which. added to the deep snow
in the mountains. caused rapid rise Of the wa.
tcrs Parson b. of Bath county had been invited
TO perform the ceremony. Anticipating difficulty
and perhaps. remembering defeat in days d
ynre. he set out from home early in the morning
with the hope of passing the waiercourses before
they were too fall. VAN hope. VIII lie reach
cd The neighborhood he was told that the river
was swollen beyond any possibility of crossing
with any safety. 1t is often hard TO start wed
ding. but when started it is a great deal harder
to stop il. The Parson, having secured the COM
pany of friend in the neighborhU,d. determined
10 make every effort to accomplish his mission
and if there must be failure. lei 1t be after falr
| trial. By a crcuous route. he and his compan
ion succeeded in reaching the bank OF The river,
opposite to, and only few hundred yards distant
| from the house. A lund haloo soon brought the
wedding party to partly on the bank OF the nv
or. The whole ,fficulty was before them. The
| Parson could not advance foot further without
/ swimming dangerous mountain torrent, covered
with huge sheets Of floating ice. But ''where
there ia a will, there is way" though there be
neither bridge n boat. 1t was proposed that the
Parsop should marry them across the r'ling Hood
| This proposition was acceGed 10. Yet the Par'on
declared that it beh0uyed them to act lawfully,
and insisted on his warrant being transmitted 10
his hands. Happily for MS in this free country,
the law dues not prescribe how this is 10 be ac
complished neither does il state at what distance
the officiating officer shall stand. IN This case the
License was bound close around slime of suitable
size, and the whale being wrapped with thread so
as 10 make it tight and compact. was thrown a.
cross the river The feat of throwing it was per
formed by the Bridegroom. while his yuung bride
was standing by him. And twas throw with
hearty good will. That man knew he WAS throw
Ing for a wife, and the only question with him
was, wife or no wife. There stood the anxiuus
group-what suspense lit might miscary.-ii
might be turned aside by some overhanging limb
and find watery grave! With powerful swing
of the arm it started. and mounting high. touk lis
onward and airy flight | had learned long be-.
fore, that "whatever goes up must como down"
but felt some misgvings as 10 where the come
down might be in this case. The moment Of sus
pense was soon over The little missile. freight
ed with document so important. sped its way
through the air in most beautiful arch. high c.
yer the wide waters. and shout of triumph an.
nounced its fall upon terra irma. To unwrnp and
read was the work of moment. The parties
were already arranged, with joined hands, and
Parson B.. with uncovered head, stood as grace
fully, and as lightly too, as he could upon quick
sand at the edge of the river, and with voice dis
tinclly heard above the roar of waters. lhe MARI
age was consummaed We'll pleased at 50 favor.
able termination Of what, a little before, had
been forlorn hope, the groups on either hank took
of their several ways. Whatever else may for
get, never can forget that thro'c.
MONTANUS.