Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-10-10
THE FRONTIER WEDDING.
BY THE MINISTER'S WIFE.

One day IC early winter my husband
received q summons to Burke's settle
msnt, to unite couple in the bonds of
wedIock. 1t was especially requested
that his wife should accompany him, as
we should be expected to remain all night
and partake Of the festivities.
1t was twenty miles TO the settlement,
and We reached the log hous. Of MIR.
Burke, the father Of the expected bride,
about noon \ dozen tow haired chill.
dren were at the door, waiting our arri-
val They ielesraphed the news instantly.
"Marm marm here's the elder and
his woman! They're nothing but Joils =!
'She's got mans hat too, and turkey
wing IN the front Of it; his nose is just
like dad's-crooked as cow-dorn squash. "
Alas for Mr. Morrison's aquiline nose,
of which he was little vain.
"Sam.' cried a shill female voice
| from the interior Of the cabin, run out
and grab the rooster, and I'll clap him
into the pot. Sail, you quit that churn
and sweep the floor. Kick that corndod-
ger under the bed. Bill, you wipe the
,al!ow oat of that cheer for the ministers
wife aud be spry about it"
Further remarks were Gu: short By our
entrance.
Mrs. Burke, in calico short gown. blue
petticoat and bare feet, came forward
wiping her face on her apron.
How 30 you do, elder? How dye
Do, marin? Must excuse my head-hain t
had no chance to comb it since last week.
Work must be did, you know. Powerful
sharp air, hain't it? Shoe, there! BIZ
drive that turkey ont of the bread-trough.
Sal take the lady's things. Set right up
to the fire, marm Hands cold? Well,
Just run 'em in Bills hair-we keep it
long purpose.
Bill presented his shaggy head, but l
declined with an Involuntary shadder.
"Lauk, # she amt actually shiver-
ingv' cried Mrs. Burke Bring in
some more wood Here, marm, take this
hot cora dodger inter yer lap-it's as good
as soapstone."
\ fateful squall announced the the ex
ecution of the rooster, and shortly after
wards he was bouncing about in four
quart kettle, hung over the fire. Sal re-
turned to her churn, but the extraordin-
ary visitor must have made her careless,
for she upset the concern, and buttermilk
went swimming over the floor.
Grab the ladle, Bill" cried Mrs Burke,
land help dip it up. Take keer-don't
put that snarl of hair in. Strange Low
folks will be so nasty Dick, do keep your
feet out of the but:ermilk it won't be
fit for the pigs whea the buffers gathered
Drive that hen out, quick, she's picked
up a pound Of butter already. There,
Sal, 90 Try and churn little more kcer
ful. If you are gwirc to be sp.ieed to-
u@rrow, you need run crazy about it
81 advise YOU to dry up remarked
the bride eiect, humping away at the
churn
By the tine I had got fairly warmed,
dinner was ready, and you may be sure l
did not injure myself by overeating.
Night came or early, and after social
chat about the event Of the morrow, l
siguifed my desire to retire.
Sal lighted pitch knot, and began
climbing ladder in one corner of the
room; l hesitated.
Come Gu, said she "ion't be afraid,
Sam, and Bill, and Dick, and all the rest
of ye, duck your heads while the elders
wife goes up. Look oat for the loose
boards, marin ; and mind, or you'll smash
your brains cut against that beam. Take
keer of the hole where the chimbly comes
through
Her warning came to late l caught
my foot in the end Of board, stumbled,
and fell headlong, through what appeared
% be interminahlc space, but it was only
o the room 1 had just left, where l Was
aved from destruction by Bill, who
,aught me in his arms. and set me on my
eet, remarkipg coolly:
"What made you come that way? We
generally use the ladder"
I was duly commiserated, aud at last
,ot to bed. The less said about that
light the better Bill and Dick and four
thers slept in the same room with US, (
nd made the air vocal with their snoring.
fell asleep and dreamed | was just shot
ro.u the muzsle Of a Co!unlbiad, and :