The Republican journal., 1871-03-16
A Rich Marriage Ceremony.
From the De Soto Wis., Republican

n NUMBER OF years ago there QWclt III
this village gentleman by the name OF
Charles Whiting. If ever a human being
was overstocked with good humor and
| waggishness it was that same Whiting.
He was up to all sorts of innocent tricks.
and his victims were numbered by the
| hundred, many Of whom yetreside here. 1t
came to pass that this wag was elected
Justice of the Peace, and shortly after his
| nstallment in office, a couple came over
| from Iowa to get united in the holy bonds
Of paddock" Whiting tells how he per-
! formed the ceremony, rs follows
Having been appointed to the desirable
''posish' of Justice of the Peace, was ac-
costed, on the 9TH of July, by sleek look
ing young man, and in slvery tones re-
| questcd me to proceed to neighboring
hotel, as he wished to enter into the holy
bonds of matrimony. Here was IL
"squelcher.' | had never done any thing
Of the kind, had no books nor forms vet,
| was determined to do things up strong,
and in a legal manner, so proceeded to
the hotel, bearing in my arms one copy OF
the Revised Statutes, one ditto Webster's
unabridged dictionary, one copy large
sized Bible, a small copy of the creed and
articles of faith OF the Congregational
Church, one copy Of Pope's Essay on Man.
and a sectional part Of the map where the
victim lived.
Having placed Il table in the middle of
the room, and seated myself behind it. |
in trumpet tones called the case. With
that the young man and woman, with
great alacrity, stepped up before nae.
Having sworn them on the dictionary to
answer we'll and truly all the questions
was about to ask, proceeded. | told
the young man that, being an entire
stranger, should have to ask him to give
bail for the costs. Having heard this 50
frequently in court, thought it indispen-
sable. He answered that if | meant the
fee tor performing the ceremony, he
would deposit it then and there As |
did not know what | did mean, ma gnani
mously waived that portion of the cere-
mony. | then told him it would be
necessary to give bail to keep the peace
This he said he was willing to do when
he arrived home. and then | waived that
point also.
Having established to my satisfaction
that they wanted to get married, and that
they We're old enough to enter into that
blessed state, proceeded 10 tie the knot
| asked him if he was willing to take that
woman to be his wife. He said he was.
| told him that did not require haste IN
the answer-that he might reflect a few
minutes if he wished. told him she
looked like a fine girl, and had no doubt
she was; but if the sequel proved that he
was taken in, | did not want to be held
responsible. | said he must love, honor,
| and obey her rs long as she lived; he
must not be ''snappy' around the house,
nor spit tobacco Juice on the floor, all of
| which he promised faithfully to heed.
Now said |, "Georgiana, her name
was Georgianal you hear what Hum
phrey says. Do you accept the invita-
ton to become his wife? Will YOU be
lenient toward his faults and cherish his
virtues will you never be guilty of throw
ing furniture at his head for slight
otfcnses, and will you get three meals 4
day without grumbliag" She said she
would. l asked then if they believed in
the commandments, and they said they
did. Having read the creed and articles
of faith, rs aforesaid, | exclaimed:
Humphrey, take her, She is yours |
can not withhold my consent" ''Georgi-
ana, when safe in the arms OF your
Humphrey, you can defy the SCOTS and
and ieers oft world"
then read little from the Essay on
Man. including that passage, MAN wants
| but little here below but wants that little
long" As a finale 10 the scene, delivered
the following eXordum: $50 in peace
sin no more"
The generous Humphrey having placed
a fifty cent check in my unwilling palm,
bade the happy pair final adieu.