Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-09-11
The Bridal Handkerchief.

We was all prepared to go to the wedding.
was going, father was going, the gals was going
and we was going to take the baby. But come
to dress the baby, couldn't find its little linen
shirt. I'd lain clean out of the drawer a.
purpose l knew jest where ID put it (; but, come
to look for it, it gone.
For mercy's sake says !, gals, has any
of you seen that babys shirt p
OF course none of 'em had seen it, and looked
again /; but it want no where to be found.
It's the strangest thing in all nature" says
/ p" here | had that shirt in my hand not more n
ten minutes ago, and now it's gone, nobody
knows where ! Gals, " says !, - do look around,
can't ye?'
But fretting and fuming wouldn't find it; so
went to the bureau and fshed up another shirt,
and put it onto the baby, and at last we were
ready for start.
Father had harressed up the double team, and
the gals were all having good time going to
see Mary Ann married but somehow | couldn't
get over that baby's shirt 'Twant so much the
shirt but to have anything sperrited away righ,
under from my face and eyes, twas too pro-
voking.
"What be you thinking about, mamma ??
says Sophrony. What makes you sober ??
says she.
.'Im pestered to death thinking about that
baby's shirt" says I. Zone of you must took
it, I'm sartin, says.
Now, ma, said Sophrony-says she, you
needn't say that" And, as had laid it onto
'em a good many times, they were beginning to
get vexed, and so we had it back and forth all
about that baby's shirt, till we got to the
wedding.
Seeing company kind O. put it out of my mind
and was gettin' good natur'd again, though l
couldn't help but say 10 myself every few min
utes what could have become of that baby
shirt ? till they stood up to be married and for
got all about it.
Mary Ann was a real modest creature, and
was moren halt frightened to death when she
came into the room with Stephen and the min
lister told 'em to jine hands. She fust gave her
left hand to Stephen. "Your other hand, ;" says
the minister and poor Steve, he was so bashful,
too, he didn't know what he was about; he
thought twas his mistake, SO he gave Mary Ann
his left hand. That wouldn't do, any way but
by this time they didn't know what they was
about, and Mary Arm jined her left hand with
his left, then the lett with his right, then both
their left hands again, till was all in fdget,
and thought they would never get fixed. Mary
Ann looked as red turkey and to make
matters worse, she began to cough-to turn it
off, | s'pose-and called for glass of water.
The minister had just been drinking, and the
tumbler stood right there. was so nervous,
and in such hurry to see it all over with, that
l lketched up the tumbler and run with it to her ;
for thought to goodness she was going to faint
happened, but the tumbler slipped apd gracious
me if, between US both, we didn't spill the
water all over her collar and sleeve
/ was dreadfully frustrated, for it looked as
though twas all my fault, and the first thing
did was to out with my handkerchief and give it
to Mary Ann 1t was nicely done up. She took
1t and shook it out The folks had held in putty
we'll up to this time, but then such a giggle and
laugh MS there was. | didn't know what had
given them such q start till looked and see
I'd give Mary Ann that bahy's shirt.
Here Mrs. Jones, who is big, feshy woman,
uudulated and shook like a mighty jelly with
mirth, and it was some time before she could
proceed with her narratve.)
Why" continued she, while tears of laugh
ter ran down her cheeks, "Id tucked it into my
dress pocket, instead of handkerchief. That
came OF being absent-minded and in idget.'
"And Mary Ann and Stephen-were they
married after all ?"
'' Dear me, yes" said Mrs. Jones. "And i,
turned out the gayest wedding ever tended"