Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-02-16
Getting Married.

transpired in one Of the Eastern towns, which
afforded some amusement for the spectators
at the time, and furnished food for considers
bic gossip thereafter. 1t occurred in church
on one of those quiet afternoons when the
flies buzz lazily on the window pancs, and the
dog lies on the hearth stone
The afternoon service had ended, and the
congregation wire arranging themselves for
the benediction, when to tie gr,st astonish-
ment and the manifest interest of the wor-
shippers the good parson descended from the
desk below, and said in calm clear voice.
Those wishing to be united in the holy
bonds OF matrimony, will please come for
ward"
A deep stiffness instantly fell over the con-
gregation, broken only by the rustling of silk,
as some pretty girl or excited matron chang
ed her position, to get view Of the couple
to be married. No one, hov yer, arose, or
seemed in the least inclined to arise.
Whereupon the worthy clergyman, deeming
his first notice unheard or misunderstood, re-
pcated his invitation:
Let those wishing to be united in the holy
bonds Of matrimony, now come forward
| Still no one stirred The silence became
almost audiable, and a painful sense Of the
awkwardness Of the position was. gradually
spreading among those present, whena young
gentleman who had occupied q vacant seat on
the broad aisle during the service, slowly a.
rose, aud deliberately walked to the altar
He was good looking and well dressed, but
no one knew him, and no female accompanied
him. When he arrived within respectable
distance from the clergyman, he paused and
with reverend boy. stepped to one side Of
the aisle, but neither said any thing or seemed
at all Disconnected at the idea Of being mar
ried alone.
The clergyman looked anxiously around
for the bride, who he supposed was yet to ar
rive, and at last remarked to the young gen.
tleman in an under tone
The lady, sir, is dilatory.'
Very, SIR
Had we not better delay the ceremony y
think not. DO you suppose she will
be here soon?r
Me, sir" replied the astonishcd shepherd,
how should know of your ladys move
ments? That is a matter belonging 10 your
self alone.v
A few moments were suffered to elapse in
this unpleasant state Of expectancy, when the
clergyman renewed his interrogatories.
Did the lady promise to attend IT the
present hour, sir I"
What ladyl"
why the lady, to be sure, that you are
waiting here for.'
II did not hear any thing said about it, p
was the unsatisfactory reply.
Then, sir, may ! ask why you are here,
and for what purpose you trihe in the sanctu-
airy of the most highw said the somewhat
enragcd clerical
g | come, sir simply because you invited all
those wishing to be united in the holy bonds
of matrimony to come forward, and Happen
cd to entertain such wish. am very sorry
to have misunderstood you, sir, and wish you
a very good day.
The benediction was uttered with so
Icmnity Of tone very little in accordance with
the twitching of the facial nerves and when
after the church was closed, the story got
wind among the congregation, more than one
girl regretted that her wishes had not been az
boldly expressed as the young gentleman's
who had really wished to be "united in the
holy bonds Of matrimonyn
GuARDrAS AxcELs.-There are those who
believe that it is the especial interest of the
"loved and lost to be hereafter the guardian
watchers Of the living who are left behind
! Such persuasion has dried many a mour.
ner's tear. In the overwhelming grief which
death brings, it is relief unspeakable to
think that the lamented and good parent the
cherished partner, or the darling child are
still with us, separated only by division as
thin as air, sympathizing us to holy actions
Often has such conviction checked the ris
ing thought of evil, and turned the tempting
and crring back to the paths of virtue. We
would fain believe that those sweet limo
cents who are given to their parents fol
awhile, and who are then taken away Just az
| they have begun to weave themselves about
our hearts, are angels in disguise, sent to
wean us from earthly things and revive in
our souls the longing for Paradise God
spirituaIizes US in that way, when all other
means fail There are praying mothers,
whose sons are far away, to whom this be-
! lief has sometimes come with peculiar beau
ty. Oh? what inexpresSible joy to think that
guardian angels attend the wanderer in the
watches Of the uight, in the storm at sea, on
the wide prarie, ON the bleak Sierra. Grown
men, separated by vast oceans from their
homes, often feel as if some invisible pres
ence was with them--a presence as though q
celestial spirit won by mothers petitions,
constantly protected their footsteps There Is
German legend which says that each Of us,
at birth, has a guardian angel appointed, who
remains with US until death, unless driven
away by remorseless wickedness. Alas! for
those who have banished their invisible at