Connecticut western news., 1874-09-25
Getting the Shoes.

Many incidents are related of the late Judge Harrison, the pioneer of Michi- gan, who died lately, at the advanced age of 103. Of his early love and we'd ding, the following story is related:
 There are few instances of his early life that we are able to obtain. He was a steady, hard-working lad, energetic and thorough. He received but little education, three months in the common school forming about all his education al curriculum. He learned to read and write, however, and took quite as much interest in books as those around him. Like most boys, he early fell in love, the object of his adoring passion being Martha Stillwell, the daughter of a farmer living near his father. The at tachment was reciprocated, and the young couple exchanged words of love and eternal fidelity. He was nearly nineteen and she three years his junior. Bazil, whose love gave him confidence, boldly asked consent of Martha's pa rents to their marriage. Her father
 liked his frank and kindly ways, and favored the match, but dame Stillwell had higher aspirations for her daugh- ter. She wished her to wed the pos sessor of broad acres, and not penni- less young man. Besides, how could she spare her daughter yet? No, she would not give her consent. Grieved were the lovers at this decision, but by no means obedient to the behest of the stern mother. In clandestine interviews they renewed their pledges of affec- ton, and, encouraged by Martha's fath- CT, planned an elopement. Indeed, we cucvooot Mr. Qti11ua11 xuoo tho obiof oo,,
 spirator, and most efficient aid did he render. The day was set, but the sus- picious mother kept close watch on her daughter. How to arrange her wedding outfit without the mothers knowledge, puzzled the three conspirators. The simple trousseau was mostly made by stealth, in Martha's own room at night, she received some little assistance from a sister also in the secret, but she hap pened to be entirely out of shoes, for it was March, and young ladies then were not ashamed to be seen in their bare feet while in the house, and very crude brogans when. the weather made cover ing for the feet necessary. But the etiquette of Greencastle, 1790, did not permit bride to appear shoeless and slipperless at her wedding. Ready made shoes were unknown in the town, and the needed articles must be made to measure. Several plans failed, and her father was compelled to move eau tiously, in view of the fact that Dame Stillwell was somewhat suspicious. The matter was delayed for favorable op- portunity until the day before the we'd ding, when, further procrastination be- ing out of the question, the father in- vented ruse to accomplish the object. In the afternoon of the last day of grace, he came into the weaving room, where mother and daughters were at work at the loom, and shortly began to joke Martha on the size of her feet. Picking up shingle Carefully placed within reach beforehand for the pur- pose), he drew diagram of measure ment of her pedal extremities, the di- mensions of which he laughed immod- erately about with his wife, to the ap- parent great discomforture of his daughter, and then carelessly threw the shingle out of the window. Fifteen minutes after, that shingle was in shoe- maker Wilkins shop, and that worthy cobbler worked half the night to finish the pumps in which the runaway bride was to stand at her wedding on the mor- row. The next day at dinner time Martha slipped away, and with her father for witness, she and Bazil were made one by the village justice. The outwitted mother was of course indig- nant at first, but soon relented, and thus March IF, 1799, was begun the matri- monial journey of Bazil Harrison and Martha Stillwell, ,and for nearly seventy ye ars did the two live together as man and wife, until June 7, 1857, the union was broken by her death.