Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-28
A Youthful Pair go 10 Sea I'm a Tug
Love and Sea Sickness--Cupfd Out
maueuyers q StepmOther.

Love ana sea S1ckmess-OuBhu Outs
maneuvers a stepmOther.
From the San Francisco Chronicle, July l6.]
Francis Edgar Dawes is the name of a
thrifty young farmer of Santa Clara
county. Last spring, just about that in
teresting period of the year when oil ma
ture awakens from her wintry sleep and
renews her vigor; when the sap begins
to ascend the trunks of the trees, and the
boughs put forth their fresh foliage; when
, the birds begin to make their little mat
rimonial arrangements, and build their
nests preparatory to housekeeping-at
this interesting season, when birds and
beasts, and even plants, grow amorous; !;
when the wanton lapwing gets himself an
other crest.
full dove.
When a young mans restless fancy lightly
turns to thought of love-"
At this delightful period the young
farmer, catching the contagious fever that
pervaded all the ranks of nature, became
smitten through and through with the
delicious sickness of the tender passion.
Miss Jane Elizabeth Frost, q charming
young lady of San Jose, was the object
v .
was not quite sixteen, and might fairly
be considered as "o'er young to marry
yet" Probably she would have taken
this view of the case herself had there
not been special reasons urging her to
yield to the opportunities of her lover.
But there was a stepmother in the case.
Miss Frost was not happy in her home,
and the new home offered her by the
stalwart young farmer seemed to her q
desirable refuse from the jars and dis
cords Of the paternai roof And so she
consented to become bride. So far, so
we'll. But how was the difficulty about
procuring license to be overcome 2
There was the rub.
At this embarrassing crisis practical
and long headed friend suggested that,
though it would be impossible to get
license from the County Clerk, the cere.
mony might be performed outside the
limits of any county in the State and
beyond the jurisdiction of the State.
This sagacious counsellor had been in
formed, "and verify believed" that if
parties wishing to enter into the welded
state could not procure the requisite
license, they had only to 90 one marine
league" from shore, where the rite might
be performed without license, and
would be perfectly good and valid. Ac-
cordingly, the lovers having secured the
services Of the Rev. Mr.. Hendrickson, of
San Jose, the bridal party left that city
on Monday afternoon. Arriving here,
the enterprising bridegroom sought an
interview with Captain Hughes, of the
steamtug Lookout, and made an arrange.
ment to secure that energetic little puffer
and blower for Tuesday morning. At
half-past nine am. the party were
promptly on board. Steam was got up,
and by a quarter to eleven o'clock the
tug had snorted herself over the bar into
blue water, full two marine leagues from
the shore.line.
All things being now in readiness all
hands were piped aft to splice-not the
main brace, but two faithful hearts that
are bound heuceforth to "beat as one."
Neptune, not being in an accommodating |
humor, had meantime got up rather a
rough sea, and the young folks did not !
look quite as jolly as when they started. |
However, they came stoutly up to the |
matrimonial scratch, untroubled by |
qualms of conscience and desperately re- |
pressing all quslms of more vulgar
character. Mr.. Hendrickson stationed |
the couple, and was about to commence !
the momentous ceremony, when the |
Lookout gave lurch that came near car
rying the whole party off their "pins."
Captain Hughes, however, caught the |
bride and sustained her on one side,
while the pilot took up position in the |
rear, ready to "lend hand in case of
need. "Dress 'front.' cried the Captain;
and you, parson, just pitch in and
make these two one flesh as quick as the |
church allows, for it's getting rougher
every second" Thus exhorted, the rev.
erend gentleman buckled to his work,
and in less time than it takes to write
this sentence the fair Jane Elizabeth was
transformed into Mrs. Francis Edgar
Dawes. Then the Lookout gave tri-
umphant snort, and, putting about, soon
landed the happy pair, whom neither
stepmothers nor magistrates can now
molest or make afraid.