The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-27
roUcaINc INcIDENr.

TOUCHING INCIDENT.
A correspondent of the Methodist Pro-
testant, after abiding to the attacks of the
Northern religious journals on slavery, re-
lates the following anecdote
Being in Surry county, Va, in the fall
of 1910, I attended q religious meeting held
in an old colonial church; one of the relics
of our union with England. After warm
sermon, an invitation was given to seekers
of religion to approach the altar of prayer.
Among others who availed themselves of
this invitation was gentleman, I judge, of
farty-fve years of age. There seemed to
be much sympathy felt for him by those
present, and judged him to be a man well
thought of in the neighberhood, which
learned was a fact. But was particular
ly attracted by the manifest sympathy of an
aged negro in the congregation. | judged
him to be man of eighty years his frame,
once athletic and erect, was now bent be-
meath the accumulated weight of years.
learned that the relation of master and
slave subsisted between the penitent at the
altar and the weeping old man at his seat;
which was near to the end door of the
church. The penitent, truly agonized in
prayer, and old jeffrey, for this was the
name of the negro, evidently joined with
deep feeling the prayer of the wrestling
mourner. 1t was not long ere shout, as
from those victorious in battle, went up and
the walls of the house resounded with the
praises of the victor the wrestler had pre-
vailed, prayer was answered, and the hap
Ply convert was now here and now there,
embracing friends and receiving their hear
ty congratulations. But none in that house
were more joyous than old Jeffrey, and
raising himself on his staff which gave him
support, he made his way towards his hap
Ply young master, las he called him, and
the master at the same time making toward
his slave, they met about midway the church
and the convert fell on the neck of his old
servant and wept with joy, in the aisle of
the house of God and in the face of the
congregation. And words like these were
spoken by Jeffrey, Bless God, my poor
boy, I have been praying for you this long
time"
There was no dry eye in that assembly :;
and the two, master and slave, were the OBJ
jects of attraction for the time.
MARRIAGE EXTRAORDINARY The Pres
byterian General Assemblies have been dis
putting for long time concerning the pro-
IF Eos
sister. The legality of nearer and more
delicate relationship being established by
marriage has just been decided by our
Court of Appeals. 1t is altogether pro-
highest authority of the State-for man
to marry his mother-in-ldU! The quartette
of Judges came to this decision after this
fashion and, upon the following case:
Ellen Bell married Samuel Bell, her SON
in-law. Mr.. B. died, leaving the interest
ing widow, and also several children by his
first wife, whose grand mother was at the
same time their step-mother. These chill
dren refused to grant the old lady her dow
er, and hence the suit.
The cause was brought before Judge
Pryor, the late learned and estimable Judge
of the adjoining circuit. He decided that
the marriage was void, as the parties were
within the degrees of relationship fixed by
the statute of 1898.
An appeal was then taken, and the adju-
dication of the lower Court was reversed
The Court of Appeals decided that there
was no prohibition to such marriage
by the statute of 1799--that marriages
within the Leyitical degree are not void,
though voidable.
Accordingly, if any man desires to mar
ry his mother-in-law, he can go ahead
The law is on his side.-LouisuiUe Journal.
A LOVING BLUNDER.-Two young gen
tlemen met few evenings ago, at the
house of an acquaintance, some young la
dies, for one of whom each gentleman en-
tertained tender feelings. In spirit of
frolic, one of the ladies blew out the lamp,
and our two friends, thinking it a favorable
moment to make known the state of their
feelings to the fair object of their regard,
moved seats at the same instant, and placed
themselves, as they supposed by the lady's
side but she had also moved and the gem
tlemen were, in reality, next to each other.
AS our friends could not whisper without
betraying their whereabouts, they both
gently took, as they thought, the soft little
hand of the charmer; and when, after a
while, they ventured to give tender pres
sure, each was enraptured to find it return
ed with an unmistakable squeeze.
1t may be we'll imagined that the mo-
ments flew rapidly in this silent inter-
change of mutual affection. But the ladies,
wondering at the unusual silence of the
gentlemen, one of them noiselessly slipped
out, and suddenly returned with light
There sat our friends, most lovingly squeez-
ing each others hands, and supreme delight
beaming in their eyes. Their consterna-
tinn and Tho ooctaov of tha lad;as NOV I,o