The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-08-08
Wanted TO be Married.

Some time since little incident tran
spi-ed in the village of Sandy Hill, N. T.,
which afforded SEINE amusement to ths
spectators at tho time, and furnished food
for considerable gossip thereafter. 1t oc.
Cured in church, on one OF those quiet
afternoons when the flies buzz lazily on
the window panes, and the dog lies on the
doorstone.
The after service had ended, and the
congregation were arranging themselves
for the benediction, when to the astonish-
ment and manifest interest of the wor-
shippers, the good parson descended
from the palpit to the desk below, and
said in clear, calm voice:
Those wishing to be joined in the holy
bonds of matrmony will now please 10
come forward
A deep stiffness instantly fell over the
congregation, broken only by the rustling
of the silks as some pretty girl or excited
matron changed her position to catch
first view of the couple to be married.
No one, however, arose, or seemed in the
least inclined to arise. WhereupCn the
worthy clergyman, deeming his notice
unheared or misunderstood, repea-
ted:
Let those wishing to be united in the
holy bonds of matrimony now come for
ward
Still no one stirred. The silence be-
came almost audible, and painful sense
of the awkwardness among those present
when young gentleman who had occu-
pied a vacant seat in the broad aisle dur.
ing the service, slowly arose, and DELHI
crate y walked TO the foot of the ALTAR
He was good looking and well dressed,
but no one knew him and no female ac-
companied his travels. When he arrived
within respectful distance of the clergy
man, he paused, and with reysrent bow,
stepped to one side of the aisle, but neith-
or said anything nor seemed at all discon-
certed at the idea of being married
alone.
The clergyman looked anxiously around
for the bride, who he supposed was yet
to arrive, and at length remarked to
the young gentleman in an under
tone;
The lady, sir, is diiatory.'
'Very, sir
sHad we better defer tho ceremony.
i think not
DO you suppose she viii be here
soon.'
.Me, sirr said the astonished shepherd,
'how should | know of your lady's move
ments? That is a matter belonging TO
Yourself
A very few moments more were suf.
fered to elapse in this unpleasant state of
expectancy, when the Clergyman renewed
bis interrogatories- :t
Did the lady promise to attend at the
present hoar, sir?
what lady?'
why the lady, to be sure, TINT you
are waiting here for e1# sF".@
Il did not hear her say ANYTHING about
it, was the satisfactory Response. aag
Then, sir, may | ask why YOU sr2.
here, and for what purpose you thus trifla
in the sanctuary of the Most High" said
tn somewhat enrsgcd clerical. aa--i
Il come, sir, simply because youinvited
all those wishing to be united in the holv
bonds of matriin ony to step forward, and,
I happened to entertain such wish =
am very sorry misunderstood yon, sir,
and wish you a very good day
The benodiction was uttered with n
sslennity of tone very little in accordance
with the twitcbing Of tho facial nerves;
and when, after the church WAS closed,
the story got among the congregation,
moro than on, girl regretted
her wishes had not been so boldly exprss-
ell as the Young gentlemau's who had
really wished to be united in tho holy