Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-10-09
Joe Bowers Wedding.

mountains, boasts of one of the best judges
! in California. On the bench he is firm,
decided, and prompt, not caring a snap of
the finger for other the applause of friends,
or the mutterings of enemies. He is, per-
haps, the most devoted man to the law in
all creation, aud has bis head so full of
what he terms "iudicial talk" that he not
unfrequcutly Gnds himself making learned
charges and passing sentence outside of the
court room.
On Il recent occasion the judge was call
cd OF to exercise "tho power and authority
in him vested, in the case of young cou-
pie, who desired their hearts united in the
holy band of wcdIock. Of course he con
septcd to perform the pleasing duty, and
on the appointed evening was promptly on
hand at the house at which the affair was
to come off. The room was crowded with
the beauty and fashion of the town, and
none looked more dgnifcd 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 noun
tain towns to pass around the wine quite
freely, and to their everlasting credit we
will add they considered it no harm for one
to manifest his interest in the Joyous event
by getting "liycly." The Judge is an ar
dent admirer of the fair sex, having in the
course of his life led the third one to the
altar. TO use his own language, he is a
"greot believer in weddings" and that he
should become little mellow amid the glo-
rlouS scenes of the evening. was not to be
wondered at by those who knew him iuti
matcly He had the weakness of all good
judges. Te would take his tod"
The wine had passed round and round
and round. The music had ceased. The
time for making Joseph Bowers and Nancy
Harkcns enc, had arrived Every heart
throbbed with the most delightful emotions
The young men desired to know how Joe
would stand it, and the young ladies were
most anxious to see how Nance would suffer
the anxious shock. Others, again, who
had closely observed the turn of affairs dur
ing the evening, fixed their attention upon
the judge to see how he would come out of
the scrape.
At length the trying moment was an
nonnccd The indge arose very cautiously
from 'lle chair which he bad occupied in
one corner of the room and casting his eye
ever the company, he singled out the Shcr-
III OF the county, who was present rs an in
vited guest. The Judge had imbibcd just
enough to make him forget the nature of
his business. He was full of judicial talk, ,
and he required nothing but the presence
of the sheriff TO start him. Looking stern
ly ut the officer, he shouted:
"Mr. Sheriff, open the court and call or
dc"
A general litter followed this command,
in the midst of which the sheriff took the
court gently by the ARM and led him to
his scat i'll the corner, at the same time in
forming that august parsonage Of the mis-
take.
Everything now bid fair for a pleasant
and sudden termination of the affair, until
another annoyance, which was nothing less
than the absence of the bridegroom, was
observed. 1t turned out that he had lust
stepped across tho street to Join his friends
in pating drink, but before his return,
some cold bloodcd wup had whispered into
the car of our old fogy the cause of 'dclny
in the proceedings" Instantly the chair
i'll the corner moved, and in that direction
all eyes were fixed.
e" Mr. Sheriff." slowly drnwlcd the Judge,
bring dee into the court on n supcnar-the
lui@c had has own way of pronouncine the
wOrl--thcn addre >'1n the bride who stood
IN the foreground ~ lmu; her head in deep
cun'nsiom he adic.i spoSe you're the
planilf. Well, dou't take ON. Inmuccncc
and virtue will be protected by this here
court"
This was the saddcst blundcr of all. The
judge wa, again made tu see lis mistake and
would have been considerably sct back. had
not been fora corrective in the shape of
forty drops of the crittor which he Instantly
applied.
In few moments all was ready in right
down earnest. The bridegroom had arrived
full ofjoy. The company pressed forward.
The excitement WAS intense. He evidently
felt every inch Judge
J-J-o-e B.B-B. B.o-owers," commenced the
man oflaw, in that distressing style ofspccch
with which he was invariably troubled when
under the influence of liquor; J-J-oe B-B-B-
overs stand up. Have y y you anything to
s s say w why's $ son N tence"
Stop, stop, Judge, shouted the Sheriff,
from the back part of tho house. You arc
not going to hang the man, but to marry
him"
The Judge drew long breath and bl;nkcd
rapidly. but stood his ground we'll. Recov-
crinG himself proceeded:
- Joe Bowers, do Y you take Nancy
iarkenS' tory you. wifo, and SO Ii Ii help y
on God 2"
This was tolcrabc effort, and Joe nodded
assent
n n Nancy Harkens, it now remains for
ills G ourt to-"
Here the Sheriff opoin interrunted tbo