Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-12-22
A RIDE TO A WESTERN WE'D.
DING.

airy life on the frontier, there are not many
more pleasant than a genuine Wes'ern
wedding. The beartiness, the bold dath,
the generous hospitality of the thing, and
often the novel phases OF social life which
it reveals, together, Of course; with tbs
face, which is really in proportion to4hs
ability of the parties, make. the event quItf
welcome to the toiling preacher.
One day, Oh answering a modest knock,
there stood before our log-hOuse door q
young man. tsre footed, coatless, with
coarse, well-patched pants and rimless
straw hat, his face beaming with q bash
full happiness, which would at once have
suggested his errand, were it not for his
garb or rather went of garb.
Are you the minister p be asked.
Yes replied.
Then followed pause.
is there anything said I, breaking tbs
silence, that / Gao do for you p
'Yes-e-s; l came to see If you would cont
down to MI. P.'s next Thursday and mar.
~ couple -.
Where does Mr.. P. liver
Seven miles below on other side of the
river. They want you at two o'clock in
the afternoon
Il will use my best endeavors to be there
at the time said l, but whe are the par
ties p
o. he replied, with look which was
its own interpreter, you will know when
you get there
After getting all the directions needful
for finding the place, | was about closing
the interview, but my caller fingered as il
he bad more to say; and, after evident em'
barrassrsnt, asked what l charged for
marrying folks.
4 generally leave that to the parties !
replied.
Then ensued another pause, broken at
length, by his saying in a depressed
tone
4 have no money now; perhaps you
wouli not come down and marry us, and
wait for your payr
That WILL replied. And Provi>
dence permitting, you will see me at the
hour named
The cloud lifted from besunburnt face,
and, smilipgly thank me, be hurried away
with light step.
Seven miles 10 prairie land is short
distance, but not being in q mood to walk,
l engaged q horse of neighbo-. Mean
while, for the two intervening days, it
rained, or rather poured, necessarily, mod
Grating to gentle fall on Thursday. o.
calling for the horse, however, the owner
was very reluctant to let him go.
Elder said be, are you used to man
aging horses 2
'SOmewhat-why
Because be added, my horse is high
spirited fellow, and has bad trick of
throwing folks. Few can ride him With
out getting hurt. The facts is, l dIdn t
sleep a wink last night worrying about con
senting TO let you have him. and / don't
feel right to let him 90 without speaking
of it,
How does be generally throw his riders2
| asked.
BY suddenly jumping to one side. He's
powerful at jumping-beats al the horses
ever saw in that Iine,' said he.
i can look ont for him.
He'll outwit you, Elder; hope you
wont try it,
Blu: it was too late to 90 in search Of
another, and pleading urgent business and
Willingness to incur all risks, the formda-
BILE beast was led out--a powerful. intolli-
gent fiery animal. black AS raven.
What can be more inspiring than a
horse back jaunt across O rolling North
west prairie? So, despite the cold and rain,
and now and then a prodigious leap by
Black Hawk, the ride was most exhiler-
ating. 1t was two miles to the bridge, on
arriving there / found that the freshet had
swept it away. Just in sight, however, in
the margin Of fine grove, was a snug lit
tie cabin, and riding brIskly there, the
barking of dogs and my shouts brought the
proprietor, and a bevy oc faxen-haired
urchins at his heels, with eyes brimful of
curiosity.
is there any way to cross the riverf l
asked.
'Yes-On the BRIDGE he replied very
CURLY.
The bridge is gone.'
Well, then, there isn'i any wsy'
But is there no place On the stream
shoal enough to be forded p
The settler scratched his shock head
very comically scanned me and my beast
very leisurely, and said:
Take the road to the left, and you'll
come to the old ford; how twill be in this
food, cane say. You can try it, though, if
you like; nothing like trying they say
There was no need Of trying found, on
reaching the spot. There rolled the river,
deep and wide, with steep banks on either
side. What was to be done? Go back
and wait till the waters subsidized? That
was not Western. The genuine pioneer
never thinks of giving up an enterprise
A sho:t experience in the vicisitudes OF
frontier life wakes upa selfSreliauce aud
love OF adventure, which makes danger
and difficulty to be courted rather than
Stunned; indeed. they are every day oc.
currences, adding piquaucy to privatiOn
and hardship.
And. as l looked down into the water Of
the river, there rose to view the image OF
that ragged, barefooted ,-coatless, money!
less bridegroom, and memory recalled Ger
tain facts which l had learned about his
borrowing articles of apparel for himself
and bride and materials for q wedding
supper. Now, to 6isappoint persons in
their condition was hardly to be though,
OF. So, chirruping to my good steed, we
made the plunge; deep plunge it was, for
the animal above az we'll as the animal
beneath. The horse, however soon rose to
the surface, permitting his rider, by O
happy exercise of unwonted agility, tC
strike the saddle, a la Turk, which position
prudently kept till the opposite shore
was reached.
Clambering up the steep bank, my Dor.
rOwed steed went at a break.ueck oace the
remaining five miles TO our destination. II
was small framed house, perched on 6
swell OF land IN the midst of wide prairie
dotted with an occasional cabin. Tht
dwelling was covered only with rougt
| boards, between which the ever.restles'
wind came and went at will. Alighting a
the gate, gray-haired mantle brides
iather-who was cutting wood 10 the little
front yard, laid down bis axe, aud came
forward to take my horse. He had, as
afterwards learned, served in the Mexican
war, and bad still soldierly bearing
Taking the bride, he said,
You are the minister. I suppose? W.
had given you up, thinking you would no
come in such storm as this. But how
did you cross the riverH We heard thu
4 bridge was gone'