The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1874-02-12
A Bridegroom's Troubles.
IDIoT1C PROCEEDINGS IN IowA-A BRIDE
NAILED IN.


NAILED IN.
Last night party drove up, assembled
in the parlor of hotel, and sent for the
landlord. They had come in from the
prairie, and were in search of an official tc
tie the knot that should make them one
and inseparable forevermore. l was in
vited to witness the ceremony, and, as
cending to the parlor, found the expectant
bridegroom, a man about forty years Of
age, and fair and blushing damsel Of
sweet sixteen, waiting impatiently the ar
rival of the parson. For some reason nc
preacher could be found, and they were
obliged to fall back at last upon very
young fellow, a newly elected Justice Of
the peace, who had never before oficiated
at ceremony ofthis kind. He vas very
nervous at the idea of having to perform
the ceremony, and brought with him q
copy of "Every Man His Own Lawyer
through which he looked for the desired
form. No. finding any, and the crowd
growing impatient, he told the couple te
stand up and hold up their right hands
This done, he pronounced the following
charge: "You, and each Of you, dc
solemnly swear that in the case now upon
hearing you will tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, and that
you will love, honor, cherish and obey
each other during the term Of your natural
lives, SO help you God" Both answered
solemnly, "I will" Then the justice
charged them dollar each, and pronoun.
ced them man and wife. One ofthe friends
then produced jug of whisky from their
sleigh, and proceeded to compound q
punch, of which the whole party drank
freely, and then had a dance. As they
could find no music, their efforts were
principally confined to jigs and break
downs. At last the party concluded to put
the happy couple to bed. The bride was
willing to go. because she oaid she was
tired, and her shoes pinched her feet.
The girls of the party took her off to her
chamber, and soon announced to the
bridegroom that everything was ready
The fellows then intimated to the bride.
groom that they proposed to divcst him Of
his wearing apparel. He directed, and
then a scufHe commenced. The bride
groom was strong as an OK, and, getting
angry, he blackened one fellows eye, and
tore another ones coat off his back. In
the turmoil the whole party got out of the
room, and went to the saloon close by and
took drink. In spite Of all persuasions
the newly married man declared that he
was not going to let them take off his
clothes. His friends then got rope.
and, making moose, slipped it over his
head and tried to drag him up stairs
They nearly choked him to death, when
the doctor interfered, and cut tho rope
Then they fastened it to his legs, and, in
trying to drag him up stairs, broke q
lounge and tore down half the balustrade
Finding they could not get him up stairs,
they went up to see if they could not make
the bride get up and come down. But she
had locked the door, and would not let the
crowd in. Some of them got a hammer
and nails, and getting ladder, put it upon
the outside of the house, and climbed into
the brides apartment and nailed up the
door firmly, saying if the bridegroom
would not let them put him to bed, he
should not get into the room anyhow.
They hid the ladder and went off. The
happy man finding the way clear, walked
quietly to his room and attempted to enter
He could not get in, and he shouted, "My
dear, open the door," She informed him
that it was nailed up. He. then tried tc
kick it open, when the landlord intcrfered
and told him he was not going to have his
furniture and house ruined in that way
He went out and tried to find the ladder
but he could not do it. At last some one
remembered that lightning-rod man had
some ladders at the other barn, and down
the newly married soul fastened, and AT
$50 in the morning succeeded in joining
his bride in the room above.
Council Bluffs Ncrs.