Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-20
From the New Orleans Picayune. I
THE WRONG BED.
a Disconsolate Bride and an Astounded
Bridegroom

At late hour Tuesday night quite bridal
party arrived in the city and put up at one of
our hotels The bride was accompanied by
two of her young lady friends and the groom
by two gentlemea. The names were registered
in the usual way, but in some way mistake
was made in reference in the identity Of the
bride. The hours sped on toward the dawn
and the bride in her silent chamber waited the
appearance of her lord. Yet he came not
Surely, he was not sitting up all this time. The
rest of the party had retired she was certain,
since she had heard them in their apartments
What had become Of him? Impatence
gradually grew into terror.
She rang her bell and the servant knocked at
the door.
''Do you know where my husband is?' she
inquired.
faint he in here, mam?'
"No!"
''Maybe he stepped out into the city, nam,
and will be back directly"
''I'm afraid oh, do enquire at the office,
and see if there is any intelligence about him. -
The servant retired and in few moments re-
turned with information that there was none-
The wife was now alarmed in earnest. She
never had husband before, and, like the man
who drew the elephant in the lottery, scarcely
knew what to do with the animal.
In her anxiety she went to the room of one
of her bridesmaids and knocked at the door.
tWhos there ?" was inquired in accents un-
mistakably masculine.
"Me Mary but mercy, who are you?"
There was sudden stir and the sound of
feet falling heavily on the carpeted floor
'Who the devil am [ in bed with, then p
she heard the man say, as the door swung open
and her husbands face peered out.
"Oh I'm distracted about you, where have
you been p
I've been here in bed; but, deuce take me,
I thought you were here, too. :.
"Oh! James, it wasn't me.
"Who is it, then?'
why, it's Sarah.
''The devil !"
ooh no, James, it was Sarah Didn't you
know it, James q
''Blast me if I did l found her asleep, and
thinking this was our room | crept into bed
and vert to Sleep" replied James, evidently
| impressed with the idea that he had difficult
case to argue.
us she asleep yet, James?'
sWhy, don't you hear her snore?''
But Just then Sarah walked up, and seeing q
man in her room set up a succession OF screech-
es that soon filed the, hall with people.
And now the bridegroom found himself in a
delicate position In the hurry of explaining
the matter to his wife, he had neglected to put
| on his pants; and now in his eager search for
| them he was dancing around the room like one
possessed now and then imploring Sarah tc
hush
"I'm going, don't you see?' But Sarah
was seeing too much and she wouldn't hush
and the wife in the hall, hemmed in by the
eager crowd, had tried to explain; but, failing
in this, had leaned her head against the wal
and was enjoying hearty cry.
At last. however, the pants were found and
put on, and the husband and wife escaped te
their chamber, whilst Miss Sarah double locked
her door against all further intrusion. The
next morning explanations were gone into, bu
there no denying that both the ladies were
the least bit incredulous, and it is said a per
ceptible coldne$s has grown up between them
whilst the unintentionay offending bridegroom
walks about good deal, his head down, ant
evidently indugiug in unpleasant meditations
REWARDS OF FIDELITY. Never forsake
friend. When enemies gather around, whel
sickness falls on the heart--when the world il
dark and cheerless, is the time to try tru
friendship They who turn from the scene Q
distress betray their hypocrisy, and prove tha
interest only moves them. If you have frient
who loves you, 1ho has studied your interes
and happiness, be sure to sustain him in ad
versity. Let him feel that his former kindnes
is appreciated and that his love was not throw
away. Real fidelity may be rare, but it exists
in the heart. They only deny its worth am
power who never loved friend, or abored t
make friend happy.