The Portland daily press., 1874-02-07
Finnegan's Wedding.
A CALIFORNIA ETCHING.

The District Attorney of Murderers Bar
stood up to bis knees in the the Yuba. But as
his rubber boots came as hish as his hips, there
was no fear of his getting wet as he made the
muddy river nuddier by his unceasng labor at
the rocker.
Distance lent beauty and picturesqueness
to the District Attorney. A near view dis
closed several details that were not creditable
to the guardian of the legal honor Of Murderer
Bar. His red shirt thai hundred feet of
would have set an artist to sketching inconti-
nently, at ten would have made laundry
man groan. At Photographic distance, his
mother would have wept for him, for, al
though the District Attorney had only been
away from Yale two years, and in California
one. his nose had acquired "a color that, like
the hue OF a choice meerschaum, could only
have been gained oy steady effort. If the
parson of his native town could have been
concealed on the banks ofthe Yuba he would
have changed his o,inion of the District
Attorneys natural piety; for although the
young man was OF excellent family, he took
a clay pipe from between his teeth and swore
ably at the results of an hours hard washing
lying in the bottom of the rocker. Then he
looked up to the sun and transferred his pro-
family to that body, as he took off his slouched
hat ana wiped his face with his sleeve. As
the District Attorney thus stood scratching his
matted head,a brayey arrayed figure, bestrid
ing gally caparisOned mule, trottod down the
bank and cried OUT.
Il say.sur, are you the boss lahyer over the
Bar"
Il am" said the District Attorney, putting
on his hat.
''Are you on the marry ?" asked the stran-
ger, Pleasantly, as he got off the mule and
took seat on rock by the edge fthe water.
'Eh?
SIS marrying in your lire ~
II don't catch your meaning" said the
District Attorney, anxiousy.
II mean have We liver done any marrying
yersef?" explained the stranger, leisurel y
cutting pipeful from big plug of tobacco.
well, no. said the District Attorney
"why2'
because I'd like We to splice myself an
Mary Brady, over at the fiat, the night
Mary, ye know, daughter of ould Brady,
what keeps the deadfall-kin We do it?'
"O,certainly," said the District Attorney
without hesitation.
well, come on then; there's horse fur
ye at the cabin beyant."
Brown, who is a distinguished lawyer now,
with no bad habits. had his doubts about it.
He had never heard of District Attorney
marrying people before. But he reflected
chat his studies had not been profound.
Anyway, it was reasonable to suppose that
law, like morals and religion, might relax in a
California atmosphere on this occasion. And
so Brown has said:
81 made up my mind to risk it, and go with
Nh. Finnegan over to the Flat. Besides,
have always prided myself on my good mem
DRY, so hadn't any doubt, after my pious
bringing up, that could remember the mar
riage service perfectly" The wedding was
to be celebrated at the Cosmopolitan Saloon
MIR. Finnegan had been irreverent in call
ing it deadfall-and the District Attorney
found large and tipsy company, making
tremendous noise, and pledging the expectant
bride in raw rum pending the arrival of the
bridegroom and himself. The company was
larger than select. The whole male popula-
tion of the Flat had come out, as matter of
course despising the formality of waiting for
an invitation. There were only three ladies
the bride, her mother and Mrs. General
Harding, the wife of General Harding who
was stopping a few weeks at the Flat, with a
view to investment. Mr.. Brady, having got
money and lands by means of the Cosmopoli-
tan, took an interest in the General, and he
and his beautifully dressed lady got an invita-
ton. There were several other ladies living at
the Flat, but regret to say they were not
such as could be invited to the wedding.
It was a very lively assemblage indeed.
Old Brady himself could hardly keep his
feet, land refused to charge for his rum-some-
thing that is handed down in the Flat to this
day; for when Mr.. Brady was sober, or even
ordinarily drunk, he was great skinflint
The boys were sitting round the label play
iuS cards, or standing at the bar in knots.
Everybody was speaking at once, and every
body was anxious to drink his glass with
everybody in honor of the bride. The healthy
young lass sat between her mother and the
Generals lady, who were perfect batteries of
Borrowing sympathy. Poor Miss Brady was
red as piece of cinnabar, with the excitement
and the attention and an OCCASIONAL bashful
sip of watered rum, dozen tumblers Of
which beverage were constantly extended by
gallant hands. General Harding, the only
man present who wore white shirt, and
his was very large and white indeed, kept
near the blushing Miss Brady, and reused the
envy of every Fatter by his suave manners and
handsome person.
"Gintilmin, come to ortherp' cried Mr.
Brady, thickly, and knocking the glass on the
counter in shambling way;" the lawyers
come"
A deep silence fell upon the bar-room O.
the Cosmopolitan as this important truth wa:
given forth. And great many jaws dropped
and numerous pairs OF arms became burden.
to their owners, as the District Attorney
gravely followed Mr.. Finnegan, who, lOOkins
neither to tie right or left, stalked solcmnly
to the side of the bride. Evfybody felt op
pressed and uncomfortable, somewhat as one
would feel on being present at Court, If igno
rant of the etiquette. General Harding in
nisslight embarrassment,s milingly lifted pack
of cards and shuffied them mechanically.
One eyed Jim, the gambler, took advautage
Of the occasion to slip an ace up his sleeve, ant
winked at General Harding when he saw thai
gentleman observing him.
"Hold on,'' murmured Mr.. Brady, swayins
behind the bar; "Mr. Lahyer, have sup be
fore the work.
''Thank you,' said the District Attorney
glad OF any excuse for delay, for he fount
with alarm that his memory was not near 81
strong on the church service as he ha,
thought it was. But he knew that it wouldn'
do at all to look embarrassed, so he DRAM
gracefully to the bride, and taking on grave
look, he buttoned up his shirt at the neck
ana lI turned to the gaping assemblage.
The friends will please gather in the cir.
While this was being done on tintoa III,
District Attorney scowled impressiyeIv WV
'The gentleman and lady about t, be INIT
ed in the holy bonds cf matrimony will nov
please to stand up-the gentleman on tn
right, and the lady on the left-so. We wi
begin at your convenience, madam
This was addressed to the maternal Brad,
who, as If to add to the agony of the purp
bridegroom's position, had thrown her arm
about her daughters neck and set up how
The General lady came to the rescue, an
drew off the fond mother in the midst of HI
lamentations, and soon the fearfulIy col
strained silence was restored
"Dearly beloved brethren, Them y, bega
the District Attorney, in a sepulchral ton
''deary beloved brethren;" he paused AGA
to blow his nose and scowl around at i
Flatters, who looked guilty; ''dearly believe
brethren, we are gathered here in the sgl
of God, and in the face of this company, to-
to-to-n fact, to marry Mr.. Finnegan al
Miss Brady"
The District Attorney cleared his thros
and seemed to challenge contradiction.
This is commended of st, Paul to be no
orapie among all men,"
ncre tne Attorney looked solemnly aroul
asa.n. 0ne or two of the Flatters nodded +;
mur: "'n' 'o i"i '' w -
You bet, yer''
"'And therefore," continued Rrown .
dscreety advisedly, sobery and i ;n ere e.
of God, the laws of California-and",;,' 'e ''
The District Attorney, being in a NJ,