The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-08-11
THE CALEDONIA n
Rich Marriage Ceremony.

The following description Of a marriage
in Illinois by a newly appointed Justice of
the Peace. who is something Of wag, is
taken verbatim from letter written to a
friend in ST. Louis:
Having been appointed to the desirable
{. poS>h" of Justice of the Peace, was
accosted ON the 9th day of July by a sleek
looking Young man, and in silvery tones
requested to proceed to neighborlns no.
tel. as he wished to enter into the holy
bonds OF matrimony. Here was a ''squelch-
er" had never done anything OF the
kind, had no books or forms; yet l was
determined to do things up strong, and
in lea! manner, so | proceeded to the
hotel. bearing in my arms one copy OF the
Revised Statutes. one ditto Nebster's In
abridged Dictionary, one copy large size
Bible. a small copy OF the creed and arti-
cles of Faith of the Congregational Church,
one copy Of Pope's Essay on Man, and a
sectional part of the map where the vic
Tim lived. Having placed a table in the
middle of the room, and seated myself be-
hind it, in trumpet tones, called the case
with that the young man and woman,
with great aIacrity. stepped up before me-
Having sworn them on the dictionary, to
answer well and truly all the questions |
was about to ask, | proceeded. l told the
Young man that, being an entire stranger,
/ should have to ask him to give bail for
the costs. Having heard this so frequent
" in court, | thought it indispensable.
He answered if | meant the fee for per-
forming the ceremony, he would deposit il
then and there. As | did not know eX-
actlv what | did mean, | magnanimously
waived that portion of the ceremony.
then told him it would be necessary tc
give bail to keep the peace This he said
ne was willing to do when he arrived at
home. and 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 he was willing to take thai
woman to be his wife. lie said he was
I told him that | did not require haste il
the answer-that he might reflect few
minutes if he wished. ! told him sh,
looked like Il fine girl. and had no doub
she was, but if the sequel proved that he
had been taken in, did not want to BE-
held responsible said he must love
honor and obey her as long as she lived
lie mnst not be ''snappy" around the
house. nor spit tobacco juice on the floor
all OF which he promised faithfully Il
heed. Now said /, ''Georgiana," Chez
name was Georgiana,) ''you hear VIVA
Humphrey says. Do YOU accept the in
yitation to become his wife-will you BE-
lcnicm toward his faults and cherish hi
yirtues-will YOU never be guilty Of throw
ING furniture at his head for slight otlenseS
and will get you three meals day without
grumbIing," She said she would. ask
ed them If they believed in the commando
menlS, and they said they did. Havin;
read the creed and articles of faith, a
aforesaid, exclaimed, Humphrey, taxi
her, she Is yours; | cannot Withhold m,
consent. Georgiana, when safe in thu
arms of your Humphrey you can defy til
SCOTS and .jeers Of the world [ thel
read little from the Essay on Man," in
Guiding that passage, Man wants bu
little here below. but wants that littl
long" As Il finale to the scene, l deliver
ed the following exordium: $50 in peace
sin no more" The generous Humphre
having placed fifty cent check in my un
willing palm, babe the happy pair ii
nal a1icu - Nss0u,.; PpDubHc0u