Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-09-16
THE FRONTIER WEDDING.
BY THE MINISTER'S WIFE.


Element, to unite couple in the bonds of
wedlock. 1t was especially requested that
his wife should accompany him, as We
should be expected to remain all night
and partakc Of the festivities.
1t was twenty miles to the settlement,
and we reached the log house Of Mr..
Burk's, the father, of the oxpectant bride,
about noon. A dozen tow.haired children
were at the door, waiting our arrival. They
tclcgraphed the news instantly.
! Marin marin here's the elder and his
woman! They'r nothing but folks! She's
got mans hat on, and turkey wing in
front of her; his nose is just like dads
crooked as a cow.horn squash y
Alas for Mr.. Morrison's aquiline nose,
of which he was little vain!
"Sam" cried shrill female voice from
the interior Of the cabin, "run out and
grab the rooster, and I'll clap him into
the pot Sal you quit that churn and
sweep the floor. Kick that corn-dodger
under the bed. Bill, you wipe the tallow
off of that cheer for the minister's wife,
and be spry about it."
Further remarks were cut short by our
entrance.
Mrs. Burke. in calico short gown, blue
pctticoat, and bare feet, came forward,
wiping her face on her apron.
How do you do elder? How dye do,
marm? Must excuse my head hain't;
had chance to comb it since last week
Work must be did, you know Powerful
air hain't it? Shoe, there Bill, drive
that turkey out Of the bread trough. Sal,
take the laly's things. Set right up to
the fire, marm. Hands cool? Well, Just
run 'cm in Bills hair--we kcepit long on
purpose.
Bill presented his shaggy head, but I
declined with an involuntary shudder.
"Lawk, if she amt Il shivcring" cried
Mrs. Burke. Bring in some wood.
Here, marm, take this hot dodger
inter yer lap; it's as good as soapstone."
A fearful s1uall announced the cxecu-
ton Of the rooster, and shortly after he
was bouncing about in a four quart kettle.
lung over the fire. Sal returned to he.
churn; but the extraordinary visitor must
have made her careless, for she upset the
concern, and the buttcrnilk went skim.
ming over the floor
"Grab the ladc, Bill" cried Mrs.
Burke, "and help DIP it up. Take kecr!
don't put that snar of hair in. Strange
how folks will be so nasty. Dick. do keep
your feet out of the buttermilk; it won't
be fit for the pigs when the buffers gather.
ed. Drive that hen out, quick; she's
picked up pound already. There, Sal,
do try and churn little more keerful. If
you are gwinc to be spliccd morrow, you
needn't run crazy about it,"
"I advise you to dry up" remarked the
bride elect, humping away at the churn.
BY the time | hal fairly warmed, dinner
was ready, and you may be sure did not
injurc myself by ovcr.eating.
Night came on early, and after social
chat about the event Of the morrow, l
sicnificd my desire to retire.
Sal lighted pitch knot, and began
climbing ladder, in one corner of the
room; hesitatcd
"Come on" asid she, "don't be afraid
"Sam and Bill and Dick, and all the rest
ofye, duck your heads while the elders
wife goes up Lock out for boards, marm;
and mind, or you'll smash your brains out
against the beam! Take kccr of the hole
where the chimbly comes through"
Her warning came too late. | caught
my foot in the end of board, stumbled.
and fell headlong through what appeared
to be interminable space, but it was only
to the room I had just left, where was
saved from destruction by Bill, who caught
me in his arms, and set me on my feet,
rcmarking coolly: What made you come
that way? We generally use the ladder"
was duly commiserated, and at last got
to bed. The less said about that night,
the better. Bill and Dick, and four others,
slept in the same room with US, and made
the air vocal with their snoring I fell
asleep, and dreamed I was being shot from
the muzze of columbiad, and was awak-
ened by by Mr.. Morrison, who informed
me that it was morning.
The marriage was to take place before
breakfast. and Sally was already clad in her
bridal robes when | descended the ladder.
She was magnificent in green calico
over crinolinc full four inches larger
than the rest Of her apparel; white
apron with red strings, blue stockings, a
yellow neck ribbon, and white cotton gloves.
Her reddish hair was fastened in pug
behind, and we'll adorned with the tail
feathers of the defunct rooster before men,
toned.
When it was announced that Lem Lord.
tho groom, was coming, Sal dived behind
a coverlct, which hung across one corner
Of the room to CONCEAL sundry pots and
kettles, and refused to come forth. Mr..
Lord lifted one corner of the curtain and
peeped in, but quickly retreatcd with
few sharp words from Sally, advising him
to mind his own business.
Lemuel was dressed in blue with bright
buttons. The entire suit had been made
for his grandfather, on similar occasion.
His hair was we'll creased with tallow, and
his huge feet eucased iu skin pumps.