Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-08-11
!. sTAUNToN, VA FRIDAY, AUGUST ii, 1865
A RICH MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

|
The following description of marriage
in Illinois by newly appointed justice OF
the peace, who is something of wag, is
taken rerbattn, from letter written to a
friend in this city, He says:
Having been appointed to the desirable
"posish Of justice Of the peace. I was ac-
costed on the 9Th day Of July by sleek
looking young man. and in silvery tones
requested to proceed to a neighbor;ng hotel,
as he wished to enter into the holy bonds Of
matrimony. Here was a ''squecher."
had never done anything Of the kind. had
no books or forms yet was determined to
do things up strong, and in legalmanner;
so proceeded to the hotel. bearing in my
arms one copy of-the Revised Statutes, one
ditto Webster's Unabridged Dictionary,
one copy large sized Bible. small copy Of
the creed and articles Of faith of the Con-
gregational Church, one copy of Pores
Essay on Man. and sectional part Of the
map where the victim lived Having placed
table in the middle Of the room and seat
e myself behind it. T, in trumpet. tones,
called the case. With that the young man
and woman, with great alacrity stepped up
before me. Having sworn them on the
dictionary to answer well and truly all the
Questions | was about to ask, I proceeded
told the young man that, being an entire
stranger, should have to ask him to give
bail for the costs. Having heard this so
frequently in court, | thought it indispen-
sable. He answered, if [ meant the fee
for performing the ceremony. be would de-
post it then and there. AS I did not ex-
actly know what did mean, magnani-
mously waived that portion Of the ceremony
I then told him it would be necessary to
give bail to keep the peace. This he said
he was willing to do when he arrived at
home and I then waived that point also.
Having established TO my satisfaction
that they wanted to get married, and that
they were old enough to enter into that
blessed state. proceeded to tie the knot
| asked him if be was willing to take that
woman to be his wife. He said he was.-
I told him that did not require haste in
the answer, that he might reflect few
minutes if he wished I told him she look
ed like a fine girl, and I had no doubt she
was, but if the sequel proved that he had
been taken in, I did not want to be held
responsible. I said he must love, honor
and obey her as long as she lived He
must not be ''suappy" around the house,
nor spit tobacco juice on the floor, all Of
which he promised faithfully to heed.
"Now," said I, "Georgiana' (Ler name
was Georgiara,) you hear what Humphrey
says Do you accept the invitation to be.
come his wife; will you be lenient towards
his faults, and cherish his virtues; will you
never be guilty of throwing furniture at bis
head for slight offences, and will you gel
three meals day without grumbling ?"-
She said she would asked them if they
believed in the commandments, and they
said they did. Having read the creed and
articles Of faith, as aforesaid, I exclaimed
Humphrey, take her, she is yours; 1 CAP.
not withhold my consent. Georgiana. when
safe in the arms of your Humphrey, you
can defy the SCOTS and jeers Of the world
I then read little from the Essay OF
man." including that passage, 'Man wants
but little here below, but wants that little
long" AS finale to the scene, deliv
cred the following cxordium: $50 in peace
sin no more"
The generous Humphrey having placec
fifty cent check in my unwilling palm,
babe the happy pair final adieu. -Mssour
Republican.