Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-10-06
Joe Bowers Wedding


 af aud I.es" boasts of one of the best iuloes in I've fos ,as On the bench he is firm. decided nand. rept not caring the snap of the finger estana Ese the applause of friends or the mutter-
 fsnemes. He is, perhaps, the most de- San, Ian to the law in all creation. and has his rnto full of what he terms judicial tai D Bas, pot unfrequently finds himself making Fess, Il charges and passing sentence outside of ae bad ourt room.
 lat tbs recent occasion the judge was called on sett. .r.ise the "power and authority in him ins ,o in the case of young couple, who de- l, ma. in have their hearts united in the holy !. kin of we5lock. or course he consented to also m tle pleasing duty, and on the appointed ck ho was promptly on hand at the house at d hs the affair was to come off. The room Q or owded by the beauty and fashion of the ils nj lid none looked more dignled or happy rokea he judge himself, who was dressed within 'tolss ' of his life.
 With customary on occasions of the kind re-
 to, for the good folks of the mountain 5 m, p pass around the wine quite freely, and p,n Jr everlasting credit, we will add. they pros. Jsr it no harm for one to manifest his in- drs in the joyous event by getting "lively." Con ;ige is an ardent admirer of the fair sex. Ins in the course of his life led the third yl1. Mo inc altar. To use his own language. he eaos ,,eat believer in weddings" and that he
 lj become little mellow amid the glorious . .d the evening, was not to be wondered 2 those who knew him immediately. He aa The weakness of all good judges. He would 's his tod"
 ", aa wine had passed round and round and "a LI The music had ea'ed. The time for 'at ng Joseph Bowers and Nancy Harkens one, ct arrived. Every heart throbbel with the as delightful emotions. The young gentle We dasired so know how "Joe'' would stand 'on nd the young ladies were anxious to see 'f0 Nance" would suffer the anxious shock. ss again, who had closely observed the l@ of affairs during the evening, fixed their ~ buron upon the judge to see how he would ~ out of the scrape.
 " Htlengh the trying moment was announced, V udIe arose very cautiously from the chair, v ch he had occupied in one corner of the room, z casting his eye over the company he sin. in l out the sheriff of the county, who was a' esent as an invited guest. The judge had \, r hbed just enough to make him forget the .n n nre of his business. He was full of his " iu- ~ ca talk" required nothing but the presence '' the sheriff to start him. Looking sternly at
 officer, he shouted.
 Ts Mr. Sheriff open the court and call ord er!" Y IA general twitter followed this command, in !. midst of which the sheriff took the court kntly by the arm, and led him to his seat in the ' mer at the same time informing the august rsonage of the mistake. D Evervthing now bid fair for a pleasant and hlden termination of the affair, until another noyance, which was nothing less than the ab ence of the bridegroom, was observed. Il ued out that he had just stepped across the rpet to join his friends in parting drink, bu efore hs return, some cold -blooded was had thspered into the ear of our fogv the cause o
 delay in the procee 1ings" Instantly the chai
 he corner moved, and in that direction al
 yes were fixed
 "Mr. Sheriff." slowly brawled the judge 'brng Joe into the court on a supenar'-tht BudIe had his own way of pronouncing the worC Etben addressingth bride who stood in the fore kround, and hung her head in deep confusion e added: "I 'Spose you're the plaintiff Well ont take on. Innocence and virtue will b. roected by this here court"
 TiS was the saddest bunder of all. Tn,
 ldge was again made to see his mistake. anC
 goaid have been considerably set back. had il
 of been for a corrective in the shape of |" forty
 rops Of the critter," which he instantly applied
 la few moments all was ready in right dowr esrnest. The bridegroom had arrived, full O jOF The company pressed forward The ex hment was intense. He evidently felt every inch judge.
 J-J- B-B B-O-o- s,' commenced the tan of law, in that distressing style of speech Ffh which he was invariably troubled wher
 iier the influence of lqour: "J-J-o-e Bow.
 5s stand up Have y-y-you anything to SIS.
 g Wv why S. .s-sen-t-tence-"
 Stop, stop, stop, iudge," shouted the sheriff bpm the back part of the room. You are not
 g1g to hang the man, but marry him"
 The judIe drew a long breath and blinked HPdly, but stood his ground we'll Recover
 himself, proceeded:
 4J.J-oe B-B-owers, do v-you ttake Nancy
 +iarkens, for y-your wife, so h-h-hep y-you
 This was tolerable effort, and Joe nodded eelt
 sN NN-Nancy Harkens, it now remains fol As C-C-Court to -"
 Here the sheriff again interrupted the judge nninding him of the real business of the even.
 Miss Nancy" resumed the judge after kng set right, "d-d-do y-y-you t-t-take J J lle BB-Bowers for hunband, tito the best e your knowled ge and b-b- bolef or d-do you ia?1
 You can bet will" softly answered the Iht- hearted Nancy.
 The judge then took the hands of the happy tnple, and joined them, wound up the busiues. s follows:
 1t now r-r-remans for this h-h-here C.C eourt to pronounce yon, J-J-Joe Bowers, and yyon, Nancy Harkins man and wife; aud-' here the judge paused to wipe the precipitation rom hls tAce) "m may c -God-Or-mi-t, h-h-have mercy on y-y-your s-s- souls, She. m remove the cuprits!'
 The company roared. Joe and Nancy weak e'd The sheriff was taken with leaving The judge let himself out loose in a glass Q apIe jack. It was the greatest wedding eve Witnessed.