The New York herald., 1874-12-30

n was state occasion and the United States had
done itself honor. Her eyes were coquetishly
black and her hair shone with the same dewy
sable.
George Quackenbush, citizen OF the world, said
to hail rom "Cherry street, America" stood
there In his blue broad collar. aowing blue
breecnes blue shirt and vanished pumps. His
cap was in his hand. HIS mustache and hair were
black as copying Ink. He trembled little as he
had never done before any other enemy.
Along the secured deck the nve-score seamen
stood, wistfuly intent They were thinking OF the
two days and nights leave OF absence George
Quackenbush was 20 have--and IN such company!
A family aspiration was plainly expressed oy Oil
that noble company.
The ship at the long dock she lay
The deck with the colors was gay;
And George gave hitch
signied tnat he relt some dismay.
DEMOCRACY BETWEEN DECKS
Mrs. Commodore Cooper took her place on one
side OF the bride. The Commodore gave ner away
with the dignity OF sovereign. The chaplain
read the service follows :-"George, wilt thou
have THIS woman TO be thy welded vile :" &C.
Here George hitcned one side OF his trousers as
II an unseen force were pulling them through the
decks, and said, ~ Will, sur.n
Then George repeated. without interval, but
with many hirch:-
II take thee, Ann, sur, To be my welded wife,
sur To have and To hold. sur From this day for
ward, surf For better or or worse, sur For richer
or for poorer, sur! In sickness and IN health, surf
To love and to cherish, sur TIL death do part,
sur! According TO Gods holy ordinance. sur! And
hereto plight thee my troth, surP'
George evidently supposed tnat the chaplain
was the great marrying parsonage, and addressed
him exclusively. He continued
"WiLh this ring l thee wed snrl George was
poor as q rat.) And with all my worldly goods
thee endow, sur In the name OF the Father,
sur! And OF the Holy Ghost, sur! And OF the Son,
sur Amen, sur"
s.Let us pray" said the chaplain.
"Amen, SURF said George. lie had learned it
with all the forms OF polteness.
There was . great deal oil sterling history
among those spectators. Not to mention Magee
and Harris and Torrey aud Hall and Goodell and
Abbott, all men OF mark and loving the service.
but the solid seamen and working engineers, who
had passed the fire OF rebel orts, worked on long
blocKades, passed the seas in dangerous rolling
and pitching iron-clads, and seen action ON
cleared decks, guided only by mysterious auto
matte bells from the pilot house. They had never
seen anything like TINS on shipooard-the ariStoc-
racy OF the line uniformed to see common
sailor boy assume the vows OF respectful lifelong
matrm0ny. mSenSl0ly serious ana YET Symp3-
thetic feeling passed through the ship. The chap
lain forgot the joke, and he read the service with
fne manly solemnity The quarter gunner himself,
II he had ever entertained the idea OF marrying ION
lark,n felt that 1t was no laughing matter, and
repeated his part with q lengthening lace. Only
the demure little bride, who had accepted her
sweet William In all sobrlety performed with
equanimity from beginning to end and showed no
apprehension that it was other than she had
originally meant it TO be-a womans reality and
mans perpetual obligation.
EsTo PERPETUA.
Itwas done At last they were pronounced man
and wtie The sailor kissed his BRIDE The brides
maids did not scruple to 90 as much. The long
files OF grim and rogush sailors shook George
Quackeppusn's hand. glass Of wine, freely
poured, and all the officers Joining gave good
health to the young couple. Then the sailors
manned the ship, and as the pair stepped ashore
series of rousing cheers followed them up into
| Honeymoon.
HALF 4 LOAF.
Alasl for poor George, the bridegroom. Ar
| rived at her lodgings In Pearl street the bride
| despatched him back to the vessel.
! George" she said, demurely, "thts Is not my
home. want you to 60 back to the Roanoke tall
get my things together and ind quarters IN
| Brooklyn, where We shall begin housekeeping In
q proper way. Don't pout, SIR Go back and be Q
| good boy and wait till move"
! . The poor bridegroom found that possession was
| not nine points OF the law, nor quite compensa-
ton for so much pursuit. but our reporter saw
him placidly returning toward Brooklyn Terry.
sadder a wiser
lie rose the morrow morn.
|