Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-03-23
How 70 Marry.

I
T, A pleasant. intelligent. go-abead Captain,
good steward. and social, refined compa-
ny. made the trip one of pleasure; indeed,
long shall | remember the saucy Emily
Barton and her superb living freight. One
lovely summer afternoon il was whispered
that we were TO have wedding before
the boat reached her destination; said
whisper starting first and low near the Ia
dies cabin. and. speedily making its way
TO the hall, the boiler-deck. and even 10 the
main; like the snow ball down the noun
tain, gathering size. form and momentum.
as it rolled forward, until the principals in
the interesting scene we're not only pointed
out. but the parson-some scraps in the
history Of each, fiction, fact and surmise, all
hashed up ingeniously. leaving you in the
half-pleasant, halfpainful suspense and
doubt that opens the eyes so wide and
strains the drum of the ear SO tight to all
trsnspiring around you. Well. we landed
to wood at magnificent beach bottom, the
tall. heavy-leafed trees, with their silver
gray trunks, making a cool shade. while
they, with their grassy green bank that
bore them, were in the CLASSY river. so clear,
so true, that inversion only pointed the
false from the real Cutting this charming
spot in twain came murmuring chrystsl
brook, scarce four spaEs wide. 10 lose itself
in the mass Of Tennessee waters, they alike
10 be lost in the 5oundiess sea.
No sooner was the staging out than
there emerged from the ladies' cabin fine,
manipulating fellow, dressed in faultless
taste, intellect beaming in every feature.
while all over his face perfect happiness
shone like phosphorus on the sea; and
leaning on his arm was the most lovahle
woman it has ever been my lot to behold
her fine hazel eyes (tell-tales that they
were) speaking deep emotion, and her ex-
pressiVe lip quiverihg with suppressed ex-
citement, while her step, dress and grace
were that Of queen. "There they arel"
"Thst's her ]" "Oh, how handsome!' burst
from many lip as We instinctively made
way for them to pass TO the altar, and
where that was we had about as clear an
idea as transcendentalist generally has of
what be is talking about. But one thing
we all seemed TO know, that there was fun
ahead, and that to fall in their wake was
the way to see il. As the ladies passed
gallant arm was offered to each, and thus
we marched out of the cabin, down the
stairs, across the staging. and up the slop- |
ing bank. Some fifty ysrds up the brook
the pair stopped. and joining hands, they
stood with the clear water between them
as it was with the twining fin
gers and crossed by stream of love as
pure as itself All was silent, still, until
broken by the minister, reading in an i'm
pressive manner:
"Aud of the rib which the Lord had TAX
en- from man msde be woman and bro't
her to the man. And Adam said, this is
now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called woman, because she was
taken out of man. Therefore shall man
leave his father and his mother and clesve
unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh"
He closed the book and offered a most
touchingly beautiful prayer; not heart
bat seemed to feel that earnest appeal to
The Throne Of Grace. Then asking the
usual question, be pronounced them hus-
band and wife. The bride slowly sinking
on her knees, raised her beautiful face, all
covered with tears. and her clasped hands,
and in most touching, sweet voice, trem-
ulous with deep emotion, said:
"And now, o merciful Father, grant that
our two lives thus united, may peacefully
f3w in one, even as this rivulet, until we
reach the River of Death, and undivided in
faith or conduct be permitted to Join Thine
eternal smiles in the land Of the pure and
the blest"
Every pulse seemed still, hoping, wishing
for more Of this beautiful drama. Not a
word, not movement from all that throng
all, all was happiness. o, lovely panor-
anna, how deeply thou art craven on my
heart! The happy man was in the act Of
a kiss upon the smiling lips of
bis magnificent wife. when the clear tcnes
Of manly voice started all from their pleas
ing reverie; universal gaze rested on a tall
Tennessean, whose eagle eye spoke the
fit representative he was Of the
State where sleeps Jackson.
al can't stand this any longer, can't by
-l Pardon, ladies, pardon; l have a
to make in the good faith Of
man who never lies or trihes. l must make
it or desc here goes. Now will marry
on this spot any lady in the crowd who has
the nerve to face such music; look at me,
and if you can love me as she loves, (point-
ing at the bride,) I'll promise to be hus-
band to you, such a husband as she de-
serves, and such husband as a true heart
ed man will make to the woman who comes
trembling under bis wing l further say
that no spot Of shame attaches to my name,
nor ever shall; and this arm shall support
and protect the one who can trust it Who
will take me?"
And his eye ran slowly and steadily over
the crowd of handsome women around him;
bis earnest manner and novel speech had
aroused an intense feeling; al was surprise
and deep sympathy with the fearless, excit-
ed orator; when, to the sstonishment and
delight of every one, fawn-like, blue-eyed
girl, from the floWery banks of Alabama,
stepped to his side, and looking confidently /
up to bis side, with her hands on his arm,
said
Il am thine"
By this time bis arm was around her
waist, and parting her curls, (black as the
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