The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-12-03
ELOPEMENT IN A SKIFF,

Yesterday morning, says the St. Louis
Dispatch of the 10Th uIt., as Justice Jecko
was sitting in his office, poring over the
election returns, and congratulating him.
sell on being swindled out of the nomina-
ton for Sheriff, young man from the
rural districts entered and inquired timid
ly if the Squire was in. Jecko informed
him that he was a Justice of the Peace,
and was sometimes called Squire for short.
"Well," said the young man, blushing
and casting his eyes upon the floor, ''what
has fellow got to do in this State when
he wants to get married p
"The first thing he must do" replied
the Justice, Sis to get woman"
80, is that all? No license mo tell
ing it in church %
Nary licensc-nary church. If he's
old enough, and the girl is old enough, the
law considers they are both big enough,
and the rest is nobody's business -
That's just as easy as rolling off log.
Think I'll come to Missouri 10 live. They
have more freedom here than over in Hi
noy, where | come from. Squirrel he
continued, laying his hand familiarly on
the Justices shoulder, '.rve got gal out
tn 'r at the door, aud she and me are aw-
fol anxious to get spliced We had hard
time stealing away from the old folks, and
had TO come down the IlIinoy river in a
skif Last night we camPed on a sand
bar, ard | tell you it won't do to put off
the gettin' married part any longer. Su-
san would never forgive me if it was put
off, because she says there would be talk
about US roosting together on sand bar"
'Well, just bring Susan in, and I'll fix
the thing all right in five minutes. Sieg>
wart, the constable, will be here pretty
soon, and he will be the witness
"All right sne's right out here in front
of a pile of cabbage, and I'll fetch her in
at once "
The young man stepped out, and in a
moment returned, accompanied by rosy
checked damsel, dressed in red calico with
wkite spots, and wearing heavy green
veil. Lifting up her veil, she said
''Alster, | don't want to have any
foolin' about this here marriage If you
are real Squire, its all right; but Eve
| heard of fellows passing themselves off fol
| 'Squires that was no 'Squires at all.
You see my sign at the door ain't
that enough to satisfy you? I'll show
/ you my commission"
| 81 seed John Jecko, Justice of the
Peace painted on a board, but that ain'l
nothin' about Squire on it,
''Oh, it's all the same, we are called
! Justices in Missouri, aud not 'squires."
swell, 60 ahead, I'll take you at a
venture bat if you fool me you'll catch
! Hail Columbia for il some of these days
Ii you wasn't good looking man would
doubt your word but you are too pretty
TO tell lie
In short time Siegwart came in, anG
the Justice told the young couple to JOIN
hands. They did so, both blushing anc
looking fondly at each other. In less
than the time mentioned the twain were
made man and wife, and when the las
word was SPOKEN the bride stepped up tC
the Justice, and putting her lips close tt
his said:
81 spose YOU want to salute the bride
don't you p
''Certainly." replied Jecko, a putting
one arm around the plump neck of tn
lady, he gave her such smack tha
Siegwart thought a pane of glass wa
broken.
"Fire away, Squire ?" said the bride
groom stake just as many Of them a
you can stand up under, there's plenty lei
for me, guess.
"You got yours in advance, Thomas
and the Squire is such pretty man tna
he can have another if he wants it.
, The bridegroom then handed the Ju;
, iice ten dollar bill, and told him his tiri
, boy should be named John, and if it was
, girl he'd call her Josephine in honor {
the constable. He became communics
tive, and told long story of bis eOnrtsbi