Litchfield enquirer., 1860-09-06
THE DOUBLE BRIDAL

enty-nlne passengers on board the steamer Emily Barton, bound up tie Tennessee. A pleasant go-ahead cap- tain, a good steward, and social, re- lined company made the trip one of pleasure indeed, long shall I remem- ber the saucy Emily Barton and her superb living freight. Que lovely sum- mer afternoon, it was whispered that we were to have a wedding before the boat reached her destination said whisper starting first and low near the stern somewhere in the vicinity of the ladies' cabin, and speedily making its way to the hall, the boiler deck, and even to the main like the snow ball down the mountain, gathering size, form and momentum it- -1-c 7 esting scene were not only pointed out, but the person-some scraps of the history of each, fiction, fact and sur mise, ali hashed up ingeniously, leav- tug you in the half pleasant, half pain fuI suspense and doubt that opeus the eyes wide and strains the drum of the ear so tight to all transpiring around you. We'll, we landed to wood at a magnificent beach bottom, the tall, heavily-leaved trees with their silver gray trunks making deep cool shade, while they, with the grassy green bank that bore them, were imaged in the glassy river, so clear, so true, that in- tcrys;on only pointed the false from the real. Cutting this charming spot in twain came murmuring crystal spring brook, scarce four spans wide, to lose itself in the mass of Tennessee waters, they in turn to be alike lost Tn the bounaless sea.
 No sooner was the staging out, than there emerged from the ladies' cabin a fine, manly looking fellow, dressed i'll faultless taste, intellect beaming ill ev- cry feature, while over his face perfect happiness sl,one like phosphorus on the sea. Leaning on his arm was the most lovatle woman it has ever been our lot to behold, her fine hazel eyes (tell-talcs that they were) speaking deep emotion, and her expressive lip, quiveriug with suppressed exc't'ment, willie her dress, step and grace were those of a queen. "There they are !'' "That's she i" "Oh, how handsome v burst from many Q lip as we instinc- lively made way to let them pass to the altar, and where that was we had about as clear an idea us a transcen. dentalist generally has of what he IS IS i talking about. But one thiug we all seemed to kuow, that there was fun ahead, and to follow in their wake was
 the easiest way to see it. As the la
 dies passed, an arm was offered te each, thus we marched ont of the cab
 in, down the stairs across the staging
 yards up the brook the pair stopped
 and joining hauds they stood aeath M
 clear aoater Jetseeea Mem-bridged as fl
 was by the winding fingers, and cross
 cd by stream of love as pure as 1t
 self. All was silent.-still-until bro
 ken by the minister, reading in all i'm
 pressiye manner, Aud of the Til
 which the Lord God had taken iron
 man made he a woman and brouSh
 her to the man. And Adam said thi
 is now bone of my bone and flesh
 my flesh, she shall be called woman be
 cause she was taken out man. There
 fore shall a man leave his father ant
 his mother and cleave unto bis wife
 and they shall be one fesh." He clos
 ed the book and offered most beaut
 full aud touching prayer not hear
 but seemed to feel that earnest appes
 to the throne of grace. Then askin!
 the usual questions, he pronounce'
 them husband and wife. The brid
 slowly sinking on her knees raised he
 beautiful face, all covered with tears
 and her clasped hands, and in the mos
 touchingly sweet voice, tremulous wit deep emotion, said, And. now, o
 merciful Father, grant that our tw lives thus united, may peacefully tio' even as thls rivulet, until we reach tn river of death, and undivided ill falt and conduct, be permitted to elJo Thine eternal smiles in the land of tn pure and the blest" Every pulls |, seemed stilled, hoping, wishing fo more of this beautiful dream. Not
 word or movement from all the throng all, all was happiness. o, lovely pa' orama, how thou art graven on th heart The happy man was in tn act of imprinting a kiss upon the sn
 ling lips of his magnificent bride, whe 7 the clear tones of manly voice star
 led all from their pleasant reverie /; tl ! universal gaze rested upon a han' some, tall Tennessean, whose eagle ey spoke the mana fit representative U a State where sleeps Jackson.
 "I can't stand this any longer.
 can't. Pardon, ladies. pardon :; I ha, Q proposition to make on the faith of e man that never lies or trifes: mu ! do it or die-so here goes. Now I u marry on this spot any lady who h. s the nerve to face such music look e me, and if you can love mo as sl T loves," pointing to the bride) II t promise to be husband to you, al u such husband as she deserves, and
 husband such as true-hearted mi y will make to the woman that com I- trembling under his wing. l furth '- say, that no spot nor shame attach
 to my name nor ever shall ]; and tl
 arm shall always support and prote
 the one who can trust it. Who'll ta x- it 2" and his eye ran slowly over t in crowd of handsome women around m Id His earnest manner and novel spec
 had aroused an intense feeling all W of surprise and deep sympathy with o. fearless, excited orator, when . faV as like, blue-eyed girl, from the Howe he banks of Alabama, stepped to his sit he and, looking confidently up in his ey n- with her hands on his arm, q , by thiue." By this time his arm W ,n- aronnd her waist, and parting