Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-03-04


rroa the Memphis Ballstin.
Not long since Confederate soldier return.
ed from the war 10 his home near the State
line dividing Kentucky and Tennessee
The first business he attended to was that of
marrying the girl he had left behind when he
first started out to seek the bubble reputation
at the lannon's mouth. A large party were
gotten up by the brides family, and man
who was conceded to be Justice of the peace,
because he had held the office for twenty
years before the cruel war had commenced,
performed the ceremony that united two
loving hearts that had but single thought.
After these rites had been observed, there
was feast of hog and hominy, roast turkey,
pumpkin pies, &c, and several gallons of
forty rod whisky 10 be discussed. In the
course of human events the newly welded
pair were put to bed, according to the custom
still in vogue among the rural population.
They had scarcely began to realize the
situation" before there was a great rafting
at their chamber door, and an Imperative
demand for them to arise. Some praying
people had just discovered that the magistrate
was not regularly elected officer, and was
not Justice at all. Alarm took them all,
and another Justice was sent for who lived
some miles distant. Before midnight the
knot was tied again. and the anxious couple
were suffered to retire for the second time.
The first contretemps was discussed freely
by those who had not gone home, and the
various contingencies Of the matter investiga-
ted thoroughly. All at once it was found out
that the last Justice lived in Kalntuck, while
the ceremony had been performed just over
the line in Tennessee. There was 4 hurry
ing..up stairs, and another arousinelo the bride
and groom. They came down stairs some
what dissatisfied with the turn matters had
taken, and then the whole party went down
the road three-quarters of mile till they got
into the State where the squire lived, and
their the wedding rites were performed for
the third time. The brides mother, not
satisfied with all this comedy of errors, had,
some time before, dispatched swift messen-
ger for stated preacher, and when they got
back to the paternal manson, to make all
things safe, the knot was tied for the fourth
time by the man of God. BY this time the
first glimpse Of daylight was streaking the
eastern sky.
Wearied out by the experiences and ankle
ties of the night, they were at last suffered to
retire in peace. Haitian hour had not elapsed
UelOTe tucr6 WAS unotner COutuSlOu Ill tuc
house. A laundering knock at the chamber
door Of the young couple made the groom
thoroughly mad. He told whoever it was it.
was "too late," and swore he would not get
up again for all the mistakes in the world.
He would whip the first man that disturbed
him again, he didn't care who 1t was. A
gruff demand to open the doorif be did not
wish to have it beaten down, and the rattle Of
musket decided him once more to submit
to the imposition. ...--- --l
On opening the portal, he was confronted
by Federal soldier, and the words, ''you
are my prisoner, come along with me-"
Vainly did he plead to have the privilege of
giving bail for his appearance, and all his
offers Of brides we're as useless as the idle
wind. The officer sharged with his arrest
was memorable, and now the chap is spend
ing his share Of the honeymoon at Columbia,
in the guard house, while the disconsclate
maid, his bride, weeps for him at home.