, 1869-07-30
TIE BRIDAL HANDKERcHIEF.

WeWas all prepared to go to the wedding
1 was going, father was going, the gals was
going, and we was going to take the baby
But 0me to dress the baby, l couldn't 6nd
its little linen shirt. I'd laid a clean one
out 6 the drawer a.purpOse; knew jest
Wher, I'd put it; but come to look for it, it
was gone.
'Rr mercy's sake says 1, gals, has any
of ytu seen that baby's shirtY
OF tcourse none Of 'em had seen it, and l
looked again; but it want no where to be
found
It's the strangest thing in all nature,
says I; here l had that shirt in my hand
not mOre'n ten minutes ago, and now it's
gone, nobody knows where Gals, says l,
do look round, can't YEP
But fretting aud fuming wouldn't find it,
so went to the bureau aud 6shed up an.
other shirt and put it onto the baby, and at
last we were ready for a start.
Father had harnessed up the double-team,
AMI the gals were oil having a good time
going to see Mary Ann married but some>
how couldn't get over that baby's shirt.
'Twant SO much the shirt; but to have any
thing sperrited away right from under my
face and eyes, twas too provoking.
What be you thinking about, mamma 2
says Sophrony. what makes you SO sober !!
says she.
'Pm pestered to death thinking about that
baby's shirt, says 1. 'One of you must q
took it, I'm sartn,' l says.
Now, ma, says Sophrony-says she, you
needn't say that Aud, as had laid il on
to them so many times, they was beginning
to get vexed, and so we had it back aud forth
all about that baby's shirt, till we got to the
wedding.
Seeing company kind o put it out o my
mind, and was gettin' good natured again,
though couldn't bel p but say to myself,
every few minutes, what could have become
of that baby's shirt? till they stood up to be
married, aud forgot all about it.
Mary Ann was real modest creature, and
was more'n half frightened tc death when
she came into the room with Stephen, and
the minister told them to jine hands. She
fust gave ter left hand to Stephen, Your
other hand, says the minister, aud poor
Steve, be was so bashful, too, he didn't know
what he was about, be thought twas his mis-
take, so he gave Mary Ann his left hand.
That wouldn't do, any way; but by this time
they didu't know what they was about, and
Mary Ann jined her left hand with his left,
then the left with his right, aud then both
their left hands again, till | was all in 6dget,
and thought they never would get fixed.
Mary Ann looked as red as a turkey; and
to make matters worse, she began to cough
to turn it off, l s'pose--and called for a
glass of water The minister lad jIst been
drinking, and the tumbler stood right there.
l was SO nervous and in such hurry to see
it all over with, that l ketched up the tum
bier and run with it to her; for thought
to goodness she was going to faint She
undertook TO drink. l do not know it hap
peued, bat the tumbler slipped; and, graN
cious me if, between us, we didut spill
that water all over her collar and sleeve. z
l was dreadfully frustrated, for it looked
as though it was all my fault, aud the first
thing l did was to out with my handker-
chief and give it to Mary Ann. | was nice.
ly done ap. She took it and shook it out.
The folks had held in putty well up to this
time, but then such a giggle and laugh as
there wss. l didn't know what bad given
them such start till looked aud see. I'd
give Mary Ann that baby's shirt
(Hers Mrs. Jones, who is a big, heshy
woman, uudulated and shook like a mighty
jelly with mirth; and it was some time be-
fore she could proceed with her narrative.)
why continued she, while tears Of
laughter ran down her cheeks, I'D tucked
it into my dress pocket instead of hand,
kercbief. That came of being absent>mind-
ed and in a 6dget."
And Mary Ann and Stephen-were they
married after all "
Dear me, yes said Mrs. Jones; 'and ii
tnrned out the gayest weddin' l ever tended.
-