Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-28
REASONS FOR MARRYING.

How very lightly people think of marriages
when they make them, whatever they may do
afterwards; and many examples are there,
then, of the evil and the good-the &" better
and the "wOrse." 1 had been called upon, in
the absence of my friend B, to marry a
couple in the little town of -. After L had
married this couple, very dirty pair offered
themselves-a chimney sweeper, in his usual
dress and black face, and q woman about fifty
What could possess them to marry! The man
ran Oh from the church door as soon as the cere-
mony was over, fast as he could run; the wo-
man took contrary direction. AS 1 was on
horseback / overlook her; she had a rabbe af.
ter her, and seeing me pointed me out hurra-
ing: There's the man that ha done it
there's the man that ha' done it ~ Unused to
such salutations and not knowing if it was the
habit Of the place, and fearing wrong con-
struction rs to what had done, / rode away
somewhat faster than some think consistent
with clerical regulations. 1t is astonishing
how I'LL understood are even the words of tho
marriage service. 1t Is in vain to explain. 1t
is nearly always, for " L thee endou, !" Al thee
and thou, and the holy ordinance is fred out
OF their mouths as if it were piece of cannon.
How should it be otherwise; they never heard
the word before. But cannot excuse them
not practicing beforehand the putting on the
ring, which is almost invariably forced on with
the mans thumb-wctted in his mouth, and
fat finger squeezed, and the ring finally forced
down with the nail. They take, "To have to
hold so literally, that having once the ring
on and finger held, they never know when to
let II go. L said, l cannot tell why the couples
that marry do marry. Now, here is an instance
OF reason being given; and it being a rare
thing, and very rare reason, il ought to be
noted Very recently, bluff Zig farmer M
told me he was TO be married on such day. I
was taken by surprise, for l had buried his
wife but few months. He was a stout, big
widower, near sixty, with lungs louder than
any stentor, and very irritable He saw was
surprised, and took fire and literally roared-
Why now, what be to dO' got FIVE COWS
to calve, and nobody to look arter EN-"
" Foolish man" said L, and | remembered the
passage" How shall man have understand
ing whose talk is Of bullocks2" " And pray
sad L to the bride elect, as met her soon af-
ter this, what may be your reasOn?" She
was widow, and like an old bird was not to
be caught with chaf She looked very grave
and business-like, and replied. There is
widowhood on the estate" One had practiced
the ceremony beforehand-he was deaf man,
but, unfortunately, he had taken the wrong
leaf and, being asked if he would s'forsaking
all others keep thee only unto her, so long as
We both shall live" and being nudged to an
sver, repeated the response from the Order ef
Baptism, Il renOunce them all.' There is
very curious custom here of ringing the we'd
ding peal for all who die unmarried like ST.
Catharine. Is this a remnant of Popish prao-
tees! was shocked the other day at an in
stance in which this ceremony was performed
wretched old creature died In the pOor-house
certainly she was never married. but her son
attended the funeral. She had, in truth, lived
sal Life, but was St. Catharine in her death,
and oh abused, insulted virgin purity she
was now the bride and had her marriage peal.
How strange it is that the people themselves do
not see the insult TO all virtue, the mockery
and the Stiffness of fthis.-Black1rooa's Mag.