Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-12-27
MISCELLANY.
JOE BOWERS WEDDING.

The County of -, ''away up in the moiin-
tains," boasts of one of the best judges in Cali
fornia. On the bench he is firm. decided and
prompt, not caring a snap of the fingers for the
applause Of friends or the muttering of enemies.
He is, perhaps, the most devoted man to the
l.w in IL creation, and has his head so full Of
what he terms Judicial talk" that he not un-
frequently finds himself making learned char
ges and passing sentences outside the court
room.
On a recent occasion, the judge was called on
to exercise the power and authority in him
vested, /" in the case of a young couple who de-
sired Wedlock. 0fcourso he consented to per-
form the pleasant duty, and on the appointed
evening was promptly on hand at the hour at
which the affair was to come off. The room
was crowded with the beauty and fashion of
the town, and non6 looked more dignified and
happy than the Judge himself, who was dress
ed within an inch of his life.
1t is customary on occasions of the kind "a
bove referred to, for the good folks Of the noun
tain towns to pass around the wine quite free
ly, and they consider itno harm for one toman-
ifest his interest in the joyous event by getting
"lively" The Judge is an ardent ,admrer OF
the fair sex, having in the course of his life led
the third to the altar. To use his ownlanguage,
he is great believer in weddings, and that he
should become little mellow amid the glori-
GUS scenes of the evening, was not to be Won
dered at by those who knew him Intimately
He had the weakness of most judges, he'd
regularly take his beloved "tod."
The wine had passed round and round and
round-thc music had ceased-the time for
making Joseph Bowers aud Nancy Harkens
one had arrived. Every heart throbbed with
the most delightful emotions. The young gen.
tlemen desired to know how Joe would stand
it, and the young ladies were anxious to see
how Nancy would suffer the anxious shock
Others again, who had closely observed the
turn of affairs during the evening fixed their at
tention upon the Judge, to see how he would
come out of the scrape.
Atlength the trying moment was announced,
the Judge rose very cautiously from the chair
which he occupied in one corner Of the room,
and casting his eyes o.er tue company, he sin
gled out the Sheriff OF the county. who was
present as an invited guest. The Judge had
Just imbibed enough to make him forget the
nature Of his business He was full of his ''ju-
dicial talk" and required nothing but the
Sheriff to start him. Looking sternly at the
officer he shouted:
"Mr. Sheriff. open the Court and call order. 7"
A general litter followed his command, in
the midst of which the Sheriff took the Court
by the arm and led him to his seat in the cor
ner, at the same timeinforming the august per-
sonage of his mistake.
Everything now bid fair for pleasant and
sudden termination of the affair, until another
annoyance, which was nothing else than the alb
sence of the bridegroom was observed. II
turned out that he had just stepped across the
street to Join his friends in a parting drink, but
before his return some cool bloodcd wag had
whispered into the ears Of our old fogy the
cause of the delay ofthe proceedings. Instant
" the chair in the corner moved, and IN that
direction all eyes were fixed
"Sherif,." slowly bawled the Judge, (" bring
Joe into Court on supenar,' the Judge had
his own way of pronouncing the word,l then
addressing tie bride who had stood in the fore
ground and hung her head in Heep confusion
he ded,-'I s,pose YOU are the plaintiff p
Well don't take on. Innocence and virtue viii
be protected in this here court"
This was the saddest blunder OF all. The
Judge was again made to see his mistake, and
would have been considerably set back, had il
not been for corrective in the shape Of "forty
drops Of the critter," which he instantly ap-
piled.
In few moments all was ready in right
down earnest. The bridegroom had arrived
full of joy. The excitement was intense. HI
evidently felt every inch Judge.
"Jo-o-o-o B-b-o-o-w-e-r-s," commenced tht
man of law in that distressing style Of speech
with which he was invariably troubled wber
under the influence Of liquor, "stand up
Have you anything to s-say why s-sentenee-'
"Stop stop, Judge" shouted the sheriff from
the back part Of the room, "you are not goiui
to hang the man but marry him.
] The Judge drew long breath ard blinket