Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-27

rying out this order, l have married about
sixty couple, most of whom came forward
voluntarily. We must bring the minds of the
mass to point to feel that it is disgrace to
| live together unmarried, and the greatest diff
tculty is obviated, for they are as sensitive to
honor or disgrace when they understand it,
as any one.
TO show you that have been in earnest in
this marrying business, will give you II little
DIT OF my experience on one occasion. On
one Saturday afternoon message came to
my quarters requesting me to attend wed
ding some eight miles distant. About six
o'clock jumped into my ''sulky," and drove
off. The shades of night soon overlook me;
it began to rain, and worse than all, my horse
gave out; he would not take me another step;
1t was in the midst Of an almost interminable
pine barren, dark as Egypt, and knew not
the road l hitched my horse to big pine
tree, and felt my way along the road, in the
meantime opening very large jack-knife to
stab any wild beast or secesh, which feared
might come across my path. l found a road
leading to the right this pursued about two
miles until | came to an opening, where tried
my vocal organs to see if there were any hui
man beings near. No answer was given but
the echo from the distant pines. | retraced
my steps through the dark woods till | came
to the main road again. | travelled on till |
came to another right hand road. This pur-
sued for three miles in the heavy rain. Oh,
thought |, who else could be such a fool as to
sacrifice so much for an object so simple? |
had on my Sunday rig, which was all wet
through. Finally saw light in the distance,
| thought then there was hope. | wondered
if there was where the wedding was. l drew
near and found it to he negro cabin
where the people on the large plantation
had assembled for ''praise." inquired ''who
lives hereP" A large c0lorcd man thrust his
head out of the cabin door, and answered.
Gabriel, sir" was glad to know that, after
had travelled such thorny road, had ar
rived at Gabriefs. "IS the wedding here to-
night?" inquired l. "No, massa, two miles
yondor. | will go wild you and show you"
We started off and soon arrived where the
wedding was to be. There was large house,
formerly occupied by the farmer owner. but
now by coored families. The large piazza
was filled with people, anxiously waiting to
see the first wedding come off that had oc-
cured in that neighborhood was shown up
stairs, and soon fell back in big old arm.
chair, exhausted, hungry, wet. Soon an old
colOred man and woman came into the room
with bowl of coffee sweetened with molass-
es, and loaf of bread, which soon disposed
OF without complaining. After chatting few
moments, messenger camel up stairs in haste,
saying, ''Wedding isready, sir!" Invent down,
or rather tumbled down the dark stairway, and
felt my way into a large room, where large
company were assembled, and where ''Amy"
and ''Sancho," the bride and bridegroom,
were standing side by side. she dressed in
white, he in Il black suit After addressing
them a few words upon the importance and
sacredness Of the marriage relation, the fol-
lowing coiloquy took place :-'Do you, San
ch0, p~omise to take Amy to be your true and
lawful wife," sizes so, nassau tWill YOU
love and cherish her till death?" "Jes SO,
massa, and furder, too!' ''Amy, do you
promise to take Sancho TO be your true and
lawful husband?' She turned her head way
one side, stuffed her white handkerchief into
her mouth. and innocently replied, eyes,
massa" "Will you love and cherish him till
death?" eyes, nassau Prayer was opened
and as the people are passionately fond of
singing, susSesteu Unat soIlIo one sing. An
old man with trembling voice struck up these
words.
Lord in the morning thou shalt hear
My voice ascending high" etc.
| went back after the wedding was over to
see if could find my poor old horse; about
daylight arrived where | left him, and still
found him tied to that old pine tree. ! rode
on to church. preached, and then went home
and retired to rest, feeling very ''blue," and
praying for the time to come when l could
have good horse to go to weddings with,and
the people be able to present a marriage fee
for the parsons wife. But enough of this.
When any one of the contrabands is under
conviction fer sin, 1t is called "the lonesome
valley" For two or three months they are
secluded, detected and unsocial. This will
explain the song which they sometimes sing
'Brudder Sancho, do you want to get religion?
90 down in de lonesome valley.
Sister Sarah, do you want to get religion?
Go down i'll dc lonesome valley.
Go down in de lonesome valley.
oh go down in de lonesome valley,
And meet my Jesus deere;
Drink on milk and honey,
And meet my jesus deere.
After they are baptized they put on more
cheerful apparel, and seem to have met with
a change for the better. Another song goes
something like this which they often sing in
their plantation praise meetings =
Il take my text in Matthew,
And end in Revelation.
know you by your garment
There's a meeting here Tonight
There's a meeting here tonight,
There's meeting here tonight,
know you by your Carmen,
There's meeting here to .nightn
| might mention others, but you need to
hear them sing in order to feel the power.
REV. w. S. PHILLIPS.
Springfield Republican.