Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-06
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Ride TO a Western Wedding,

Ride 10 Western Wedding,
Among the checkered scenes Of missionary
III on the frontier there are not many more
peasant dian a genuine Westerh wedding.
Ihe helrtne.s, the bold dash, the generous
ho.pjtaity Of the thing, and often the novel
On hl,es oil social lie which it rcvea s. together,
ol course, with the fee, which is rarely small
ID proportion to the ability Of the parties.
axes the event quite welcome to the tOiliug
preacher.
Oae day on answering modest knock there
sto1l before our log house door young man,
batc,o5tei, coatIess, with coarse, welI.patched
pauts aud rimess straw hat whose face, beam
b. win bashiul happiness, would at once
baye suggested his errand we're it not for bis
gal1 or rather want of garb
Arc you the minister 7 he asked.
. Yes, replied.
Then followed pause.
[, there anything said l. breaking the
serce, that can DO for your
Yes. came to see if you could come
dowuto Mr.. LIS next Thursday and marry a
coupe
Where does Mr. l.. liycy
5 ven miles below here on the other side
Of the river They want you at TWO o'clock,
Thu ,day afternoon
Il VIII cndeavor to be there at that time,
said | but who are the parties 2
., he replied with look which was its
own Interpreter, you will know when you get
there
After getting all th9 directions needfuI for
8fndng the place. was about closing the inter
sytw, but my caller fingered as if he had more
h. say and, after evident embarrassment n-
q4red what charged for marrying folks.
/ generally leave that to the parties SAID l.,
Then eusued another pause broken at length
ly ,aylug, in depressed tone
have 10 mouey now perhaps you would.
ut come down and marry US and wait for your
Iay
That will replied. Aud Providence
IermlttOg, ou will see me at precisely tho
hour named
lac cloud lifted from the sun burned face,
all. smiiugy thanking me, he hurried away
VITA a light step.
Seven miles in praire.land is a short dis.
gnco but not being 10 mood to walk en-.
g4.ad a horse Of neigbbor. Meanwhile foI
The two intervening days, it raincl, or rather
poured necessarily, moderatiug to gentle fall
on Thursday. % calling Tor the horse, how
ever, the owner was 10th to let him 60
Elder, said he, (he was Methodist are
you used to managing horses z
Somewhat. WhyF
Because, he added, my horse is a high
spirited fellow, and has bad trick Of throw.
ing folks. Few can ride him without getting
hurt The fact is, | didn't sleep wink last
night worrying about cousenting to let you
baye him; and don't feel right to ct him g
without speaking OF it,
How does he throw his riders p | asked
& by suddenly jumping to one side. Hei
powerful at jumping-.beats all the horses
ever saw in that line, said he.
/ can look out for him"
He'll Outwit you, elder, Hope you won
try it,
But it was too late to 60 in search o
another aud pleading urgent business an,
willingness to incur all risks, the formidabl
beast was led out-a powerful, intelligent
fiery animal, black as raven.
What can be more iuspiriting than horse
back aunt across a rolling North west prairie
So, despite the cold and rain, and now an
then proiiglous leap by Black Hawk, tn
ride was most exhilarating 1t was tw
mites to the bridge. On arriving there
found the froshet had swept it away. Jus
in sight however, in the margin Of fine grow
was snug little cabin, and riding brisk
there the barking of dogs and my shou
brought the proprietor to tho door, bOvy
Hlxcn.haired urchins at his heels, with ey,
trmlul of curiosity.
Is there any way to cross tho river ?
asked.
Yes on the bridge ho replied curtly
The bridge is gone
Well then, there isn't any way +
But is there no place on the stream sho
enough to be fordsd p
Tne settler scratched his head comicall
scanned me aud my beast lesurcy, and sale
Take the road to the left, and you wi
come to the old ford how it will bs in th
Hood can't say You eau try it, though,
Z you like nothing like trying, they say +
There was need Of trying, found, on reac
ing the spot There rolled the river, Dc,
and wide, with steep banks on either cid
What was to DO done Go back and wa
TIL the waters subsded ? This was n
lt'MerH. The genuine pioneer never thin
OF giving up an enterprise. A short expol
enco 10 the vicisitudes OF frontier life wax
up sef-rcliance and love Of adventure viii