Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-02-21
The Frontier Wedding.

| :. 4uS tUutloI W6uu4uB,
One day in early winter my hus
band received summons to Burk' !:
settlement, to unite a couple in the
bends of wedlock. 1t was especial
ly requested that his wife should ac-
company him, as we should be ex.
pected to remain all night and par
take of the festivities.
1t was twenty miles to the settle,
ment, and we reached the log house
of Mr.. Burke, the father of the ex-
pectant bride, about noon A dozen
tow-haired children were at the door,
waiting our arrival. They tele-
graphed the news almost instantly.
"Marm marin ! here's the elder
and his woman! They're nothing
but folks : She's got mans hat on,
and turkey wing in front of it; his
nose is like dads, crooked as a cow
horn squash"
Alas for Mr.. Morrison's aquiline
nose of which he was little vain
"Sam p cried shrill female voice
from the interior of the cabin, "run
out and grab the rooster, and I'll
clap him into the pot! Sal you quit
that churn and sweep that floor
Kick that corn -dedger under the bed.
Bill, you wipe the tallow out of that
cheer for the minister's wife, and be
spry about il"
Further remarks were cut short by
our entrance.
Mrs. Burke, in q calico short
gown, blue petticeat and bare feet,
came forward, wiping her face with
her apron.
GLOW do you do elder =? How
dye do, marin? Must excuse my
head-haint had o chance to comb
it since last week. Work must be
did, you know. Powerful sharp air,
haint it !? Shoe, there. Bill, drive
that turkey out of the bread trough.
Sal, take the lady's things. Set right
up to the fire mann. 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 shud-
der.
claw, if she amt actually a shiv-
ering!" cried Mrs. Burke. "Bring in
some m ore wood. Here, nam, take
this hot corn dodger inter yer lap
its as good as p-stOne."
A fearful squall announced the eX-
ecutien of the rooster, and shortly
afterward he was bouncing about in
four-quart kettle, hung over the
fire. Sal returned to her churn; but
the extraordinary visitors must have
made her careless, foE she upset the
concern, and buttermilk went swim
ming over the floor.
"Grab the ladle, Bill" cried Mrs.
Burke, "and help dip it up. Take
keer-don't put that snarl of hair in.
Strange how folks will be SO nasty.
Dick. do keep your feet out of the
buttermilk; it wont be fit for the
pigs when the buffers gathered
Drive that hen out, quick; she's
picked up a pound already. There
Sal, do try and churn a little more
keerful. If you are going to be
spliced ter morrow, you needn't run
crazy about it.
81 advise you to dry up" re
marked the bride elect, humping
away at the churn.
By this time 1 had got fairly warm
ed, dinner was ready, and you may
be sure l did not injure myself by
over eating.
Night came on early, and after a
social chat about the event Of the
morrow, signifed my desire to re-
tire.
Sal lighted pitch h-knot, and be-
gan climbing ladder in one corner
of the room. l hesitated.
"Come on" said she, don't be
afraid. Sam, Bill and Dick, and all
the rest of ye, duck your heads while
the elders wife goes up. Look out
for the loose board, marin ard mind,
or you'll smash your brains out
against the beam. Take keer of the
hole where the chimney comes
through
Her warning came too late. l
caught my foot in the end of board,
stumbled and fell headlong through
what appeared to be intermiuable
space, but 1t was to the room l had
just left, where was saved from de-
struction by Bill, who caught me in
his arms, and set me on my feet, re-
marking coolly:
"What made you come that way ?
We generally use the ladder"
l was duly commiserated, and at
last got to bed. The less said about
that night the better. Bill and Dick
and four others slept in the same
room with us, and made the air vocal
with their snoring. 1 fell asleep and
dreamed I was just being shot from
the muzzle of a colum5iade, and was
awakened by Mr. Morrison, who in
formed me that it was morning.
The marriage was to take place
before breakfast, and Sally was ready
clad in her bridal robes when de-
scended the ladder.
She was magnificent in green cal
leo over crinoline full four inches
larger than the rest of her apparel,
a white apron with red strings, blue |
stockings, a yellow neck ribbon, and
white cotton gloves. Her reddish |
hair was fastened in pug behind,
and well adorned with the tail feath-
ers of the defunct rooster before
mentioned.
When it was announced that Lem.
Lord, the greom, was coming, Sally
dived behind coyerlet, which hung