Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-10-28
Joe Bowers Wedding.

{ best judges in California. On th
e bench he is firm, decided and prompt
h not caring the snap of his finger 70
: eithrr the applause of friends or tn
e muttering of enemies. He is, per
: : haps, the most devoted man to law il
all creation, and has his head so ful
e of what he terms judicial talk" tina
be not unfrequently finds himself ma
king learned charges and passing
sentence outside of the court room
On a recent occasion the Judge
was called on to exercise the "powel
and authority in him vested" in the
case of young couple, who desired
to have their hearts united in the
holy bond of wedlock. Of course be
consented to perform the pleasing du-
ty, and on the appointed evening was
promptly on hand at the house at
which the affair was to come off,
The room was crowded by the beauty
and fashion of the town, and none
looked more dignified and happy
than the Judge himself, who was
dressed within an inch of his life.
1t is customary on occasions of the
kind referred to, for the good folks of
the mountain to pass around the wine
quite freely, and to heir everlasting
credit, We will add, they consider it
no harm for one to manifest bis in-
terest in the joyous event by getting
"lively." The judge is an ardent
admirer of the fair sex, having in the
course of his life led the third one
to the altar. To use his own Ian
guage, he is a "great believer in wed.
dings." and that he should become a
little mellow amid the glorious scenes
of the evening, was not to be wonder
ed at by those who knew him inti-
mately. He would take his "tod."
The wine had passed round and
round and round. The music had
ceased. The time for making Jo-
seph Bowers and Nancy Harkens
one. bad arrived. Every heart throb-
bed with the most delightful emotions.
The young gentlemen desired to know
how "Joe" would stand if, and the
young ladies were anxious to see how
"Nance" would suffer the anxious
shock. Others, again, who had close
ly observed the turn of affairs during
the evening, fixed THEN attention up
on the judge, to see how he would
come out of the scrape.
At length the trying moment was
announced. The judge arose very
cautiously from the chair which he
had occupied in one corner of the
room, and casting his eye over the
company, he recognised the sheriff of
the county, who was present as an in.
vited guest. Thejudge had imbihed
Just enough to make him forget the
nature of business. He was full of
his judicial talk and required moth.
ing but the presence of the sheriff to
start him. Looking sternIy at the
officer, he shouted:
.sMr Sheriff, open the Court and
Call orGer!!'
A general twitter followed this COM
mand, in the midst of which the
sheriff took the "codrt" gently by
the arm, and led him to his seat in
the corner, at the same time inform
ing the august parsonage Of his mis-
take.
Everything now bid fair Cor sud-
den termination Of the affair, until
another annoyance, which was moth
ing less than the absence Of the
bridegroom, was observed. 1t turn
ed out that be had just stepped across
to join his friends in parting drink,
but before his return, some cold blood
ed wag had whispered into the car Of
our fogy the cause of 'delay in pro-
ceedings.' Instantly the chair in the
corner moved, and in that direction
all eyes were fixed.
"Mr. Sheriff." slowly drawled the
Judge, "bring Joe into court on su.
penal" the judge had bis own way oil
pronouncing the word-then address
ing the bride who stood in the fore
ground, and hung her head in deep
confusion, he added: 81 'spose you're
the plaintiff. Well, don't take on
Innocence and virtue will be protect
ed in this here court"
This was the saddest blunder OF all
The Judge was again made to see his
mistake, and would have been consid-
erably set back, bad it not been for