Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-08-11
A Rich Marriage Ceremony.

The following description of a mar
riage in Illinois by newly appointed
Justice of the Peace, who is something
Of a wag, is taken verbatim from a letter
written to friend in St. Louis:
Having been appointed to the desir--.
able "posish" of Justice of the Peace, 1
was accosted on the 9th day Of July by
sleek looking young man, and in silvery
tones requested to proceed TO a neighbor-
ing hotel, as he wished to enter into the
holy bonds of matrimony. Here was
''squelcher." l had never done anything
of the kind, had no books or forms yet
l was MISUNDERSTANDING up strong,
and in legal manner, so proceeded to
the hotel. bearing in my arms one copy
of the Revised Statutes, one ditto Web
ster's Unabridged Dictionary, one copy
large size Bible, small copy oftbe creed
and articles of Faith of the Congregation
al Church, one copy of Pope's Essay on
Man, and sectional part of the map
where the victim lived. Having placed
a table in the middle of the room, and
seated myself behind it, | in trumpet
tones, called the case. With that the
young man and woman, with great alacri-
ty, stepped up before me. Having sworn
them on the dictionaryto answer well and
truly all the questions was about to ask,
| 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 indispensable. He answer
cd if meant the fee for performing the
ceremony, he would deposit it then and
there. As l did not know exactly what
! did mean, maguanimousiy waived that
portion of the ceremony. 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 home, and
l 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. | told him that did not
require haste in The answer--that he might
reflect few minutes if he wished. | told
him she looked like a fine girl, and had
no doubt she was, but if the sequel proved
that he had been taken in, l did not want
to be held responsible. | said he must
love, honor and obey her as long as she
lived. He must not be "snappy' around
the huuso, nor spit tobacco juice on tho
floor, all of which he promised faithfully
to heed. "Now," said I, "Georgiana,"
(her name was Georgiaua,) "you hear
what Humphrey says. Do you accept
The invitation to become his wifa--will
you be lenient towards bis faults and
cherish his virtues-will you never be
guilty Of throwing furniture at his head
for slight offenses, aud will you get three
meals day without grumbling?" She
said she would. asked them if they be-
lieved in the commandments, and they
said they did. Having read the creed
and articles of faith, as aforesaid, ex-
Humphrey, take her, she is
yours | cannot withhold my CONSENT
Georgiana, when safe in the arms of your
Humphrey you can defy the SCOTS and
jeers of the world" then read little
from the ASSAY on Man." including that
passage, "Man wants but little here be-
low, but wants that little long" As
finale to the scene, ! delivered the fol-
Owing exordium: "Goin peace, sin no
more" The generous Humphrey hav-
inc placed fifty cent check in my un-
willing palm, | bade the happy pair
inal adieu.-Missouri Republtcan.