Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-03-14

the youngsters what is gittin married, and
to pick out gal to stand up with him,
and to kiss the gal fust what's got married
and to give her the fust dram, and all
stitch"
"say jones. why don't yer drap the
hat and let 'em come, fer all bands is
ready in the house? " inquired Bill
"Cause why, calkerlatc there's some
thin the matter among EN- down yonder
They're gittin' down an hitchin their
bosses, an a rollin' up their sleeves Be-
lieve it's fight"
To talk of fight was to talk of fun,
and fun was the life and soul Of the west
ern man consequently away went nearly
every guest full tilt down the road tow
ards the starting point. And it was as
tonishing to see how quickly they over
came the intervening distance. Scarcely
a pause. and back they came, stringing
along like herd of sheep-the more lub-
berly bringing up the rear, and exerting
themselves almost to death In the vain en-
deavor to keep up with the more active,
who ran along with ease.
"What's the fuss?" shouted those who
had tarried at the house, SO soon as their
curious friends had arrived within speaking
distance.
"Oh-nothin much" responded the
leader of the flock, between his rapid res
pirations, ''tbey disagreed-about the
hosses-some way, and then they-con-
cluded to run it afoot y
All right, then No fight, no fun, but
a foot race The bottle holders lowered
their pole, the hat-dropper elevated his
cap-'' one, two, three y down, and here
they come.
The race was laughable one. Buck
Bradley, great, strapping raw-boned fell
low, as ugly as sin, and almost as large,
won it, and possessed himself of the bottle.
| This, as the reader must understand, made
him groomsman, and notch above all
present save the bridegroom himself and
now his next duty was to repair to the
house and select from among the many
anxious candidates a bridesmaid. OFF
he went, still putting ard blowing from
the effects of the race
Come on, all O. ye!" was soon pro-
claimed FROM the door, and on we all went,
for the critical moment had arrived
On entering the house I saw Miss Sal
lie and one Tom West sitting in chairs
side by side looking very comical and rest
less i; and standing behind them were Buck
/ Bradley and bis ribboned and bachelor
huttoned bottle, and besides these was
blushing beauty who looked for all the
world as if she had just, and contrary to
her expectations, been chosen bridesmaid.
Silence, awfully profound, with the excep-
tion of few sniggles and twitters in DIFF
ferent parts of the room, reigned over the
scene for the space Of five minutes, when
Squire Haines go. up and said:
q Arise to your feet
Tom West and sallie obeyed the man
date.
g Mr. Thomas West, you take this here
woman to be your lawful wife,"
Yes, y said Tom
Miss Sallie Haines, you take this fel-
ler-no-ahem this man holt of your
hand to be your husband %
g Yes, sir-ahem y
q pronounce you man and wife-take
your seats.
At this juncture some one ran up and
whispered word in the Squire's ear,
whereupon be said:
81 Git up agin, minute.
They rose like the Yankees who had
sat down on an air-tight stove, believing
it was dry goods box, and the Squire
went on:
"4f the's any one here present who
knows anything why these two shouldn't
be married, let 'em say so; if not, let 'em
alters keep the peace. That's all, I be-
I Flieve"
And the Squire paused. Another whis-
per in his ear, and he went on:
"Ob, yss-salute your bride, Tom. .
Tom saluted his bride, and then came
Buck Bradley's part of the ceremony,
which was commenced by passing the bot
tie, ribbons. bachelor buttons and all, in
to the hands of the BRIDE She pressed
its corkless mouth to her lips, and in the
operation took a little whisky; meanwhile
Buck was pressing his lips to those of the
beautiful bridesmaid Having swallowed
the ''aorn,juice, " Sallie tore the '.bacbelor' S
buttons from the flask, to show that Tom
was 20 longer to be regarded as a bache-
lor, and then she handed it to bin. He
took an afectionate pull at its contents,
and then tore off the ribbons to indicate
that Sallie's days for gaudy display had
ceased to be; and while this was going on