Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-03-17

the matter to my direction, shall say a week
| from Friday that being the day on which had
! first anticipated your coming. This will give
Bella ample time for all necessary prepara-
tlons, and you, also, to apprisc your father and
such other friends from B., as You are disposed
| to invite.''
'sIf l might be allowed the preference in
| this respect" answered our hero, glancing at
| Bella for encouragement, 81 would much rath-
| er not mention it to my father and friends till
afterwards, and thus give them agreeable
| surprise. In fact, before saw you this morn
ing had not even dreamed of such sudden
| good fortune.'
| 'SAnd besde,' interposed Bella, earnestly,
| 'syour father might not like journeying so soon
| after an attack of gout. As for me, L would
much prefer quiet wedding, with only few
| friends present. Besides, would great deal
| rather give the money away, which would be
| spent on such an occasion, to some of the poor
| families who are starving in this city,
| sN obly spoken,'' cried Mr.. Meirs, with en-
| thusiasm, and glancing at Bella with word
| of pride and affection. ssNobly spoken, my
daughter With such prudence and such char
| liable feelings, you will make your cousin
John a pattern Of wife. l heartily agree
| with You in this respect, and you shall have it
| all your own way
During the time which elapsed between this
and the day set apart for the marriage of his
| daughter, Mr.. Meirs seemed overfowing with
SOON huiiiOI anu SIJO. LiCHL. NC llldut SCNcr-
al presents to the poor of his acquaintance,
and even gave Bella the sum of five hundred
dollars to be used, if she choosed, for the same
purpose.
In the meantime our hero was living in the
greatest kind of intimacy with Bella. Every
day they walked, rode, sung together, while
the merchant looked on and entered into their
plans with increasing satisfaction.
AT length the long anticipated Friday ar
rived, and few chosen guests were assembled
at the residence of Mr.. Mers to witness the
nuptials. John Peters had exhausted his last
dollar in remunerating the tailor who had fur
nished him a wedding coat, and by the as
sistance of the barber, who had trimmed his
moustache, cut and curlcd his hair after the
Rmost approved style, our hero was really as
fine looking fellow could be found any
where within the precincts of the city. Mr..
MeirS and Bella were not little proud in in
Producing him among their aristocratic friends.
The pastor who presided over the church with
which Mr.. Meirs was connected, had already
arrived, accompanied by a clerical acuuaint-
ance while Bella, attired in dress OF white
satin, with white veil, surmounted by CT own
of flowers, had just entered resting on the
arm of the bridesmaid. During the sensation
created by the entrance OF the bride, another
door opened, and young man some five feet
four inches in height, with dusty garments
and very red hair was pushed in by the SER
vant and with uch amaZement depicted on
his treckled, unprepossessing features, sank
down in the nearest chair, without attracting
particular attention at the time, from the rest
of the company assembled.
As the ceremony progressed and the ques-
tion was asked by the clergyman if any one
objected to the bands, he OF ibe red hair and
freckles rose up and said; 81 object, Mr.. Cler
gyman, most decidedly Object
'sWhat,' cried Mr.. Meirs, springng for
ward and confronting the excited young man
of the red hair and freckles. ssAnd who are
you that dare object to my daughters mar
riage with her cousin "a? Will you explain
yourself sir? ?'' cried the enraged Mr.. Meirs,
shaking his fist in the facc of the terrified in
| truder. "Speak, or by my faith will bundle
you headforemost into the street.''
ssI can't sir.'' replied the proprietor of the
chair, s'while you continue so excited.'
| ssThen, by my soul,'' cried the merchant
still more excited in his tone, ssI'il just give
| you to understand that you have no right to
dictate in my house." And suiting action to
| the word, he seized the unlucky intruder BY
| the shoulder. and forced him from the room.
Snow, cried Mr. Meirs, turning to the cler-
gyman ssproceed with the CEREMONY
Agreeable to Mr. Meirs' request, the cere-
| mony proceeded, and in less time than it takes
us to relate it, John and Bella were indisolu-
| bly, in the bonds of wedlock.
| No sooner was the ceremony ended, than
Bella clasping her HI sband's hand, knelt be-
| fore her father and said
eForgive us, dear father, for the deception
practiced upon you. This is not cousin ohm
of Baltimore
ssThen who under the sun is he 2'' cried Mr..
Meirs, glancing about the room in the most
| bewildered manner.
sIt is John Peters, but not cousin John.
My dear husband came in the first place to
| you, in search of a situation, and you forget
| ting that there might be another John Peters
in the world beside nephew John, have very
| innoccntly assisted us in carrying out the de-
| ception. Therefore you must forgive him,
my dear father, for he is far less to blame than
either of us, for you in the first place being
| deceived by the name, and we in the second
| place having the misfortune to be greatly
pleased with one another, it was quite natural
for us to yield to the temptation"
| 81 see," answered Mr.. Meirs, with much ap-
| parent cbagrin, ''I have just had the honor OF
| turning your cousin out of doors, which
makes compound blunder on my part. To
tell you the truth Bella, / am far more veXed
| at my own stupidity than with any one else.
| AS for John Peters, added Mr.. Meirs in a
| half humorous, half sarcastic tone, al think l
must forgive him for his names sake, if moth
| ing more. As for you, hussy, shan't say to-
night whether L shall forgive you or mott
will depend mainly on how we succeed in paci-
| tying your cousin John.'
Suffice it to say, for the final gratihcation OF
| the reader, that John Peters OF Baltimore was
readily pacified, after suitable explanation
| and apology being rendered him by his cousin,
! on the following day, and what is still averred,
did actually laugh over the circumstances so
| heartily. that for a moment his face became
| redder than his hair. And still further by
| those who have right to know, it has been
affirmed that John Peters of Connections be-
| came not only model husband to Bella, but
! a IN odel assistant to Mr.. McirS, III all matters
| pertaining to business.
|