The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-09-16
ESOSs THEY DO Vt IN ILLz-
E0ES.
THE WEDDING OF TOBIAS SKAGGS
AND MARTHA BURLAp.

1t was in Shawneetown, ILL.,,
that the very latest love story OF
the period was enacted, and the
hero was Tobias SEaggs. The
heroine was Martha Burlap, and
this happy couple are now enjoy
ing the sweets Of their honeymoon
in q manner becoming and proper
for newly married people in lIli-
nois. Tobias Skaggs was show
man, and travelled over the coun-
try with old John Robinson's Cir.
Gus. No hostler could clean more
horses in an hour, nor drive a
circus wagon through a muddy
country in dark night with fewer
'upsets or milder swearing, nor
carry away more ordinary grub
from a country tavern, nor leave
greater number Of disconsolate
chambermaids in every town than
Tobias Skaggs.
AS for Martha Burlap, she was
twenty-five years old, and had
thus far wasted herself upon the
masculines OF Shawneetown She
read all the story papers, dreamed
Of lovers, but had none, and served
the boarders Of the Wabash House
with tenderness and sweetness
which are the current names IN
Shawneetown for beefsteak and
corn bread. When there isan affin-
ity between two souls in Shawnee
town there is INN ediate sympathy
and love. Martha Burlap saw To-
bias in the grand procession dress
ed in a yellow jacket pink trousers,
long boots and zinc helmet. It
was Martha's ague day, and she
stood in the kitchen door with a
bottle in her hand and the spoon
in her mouth when Tobi as rode
past. She saw his manly form,
his gay uniform, his flashing he'll
met, and she forgot the bitterness
of her quinine; she also forgot
the patatoes baking. in the oven
and the eggs frying on the fire.
The smell of burning food
brought Mrs. Nibbs, the landlady,
to the kitchen, and her language
brought tears to the gentle eyes
of Martha. But her heart was
with the gallant man who rode
the spawned horse. When the
members of old John Robinson's
circus were seated at the supper
table then it was that Martha Bur
lap saw and felt that Tobias was
indeed the man for whom her SOU
had longed all these years Of hel
maidenhood. At supper hereceiVeo
a nicer beefsteak and hotter corn
bread than his fellows, and his CUP
was filed again and again with
coffee while others waited.
And she-well she was reward
ed with free ticket to the show
When the show came to an end
as all shows must, and Martha
started out in the moonlight fol
that home Of the homeless, the
Wabash House, she found a strong
arm offered and a hoarse voice
asking the privilege Of becoming
her escort.
! A half hour later an impatient
man was banging at the door OF {
justice Of the peace. The justice
was prompt in the discharge Of hi:
duty, but when be reached the Wa
bash House the bride was cooking
ing farewell meal while The
groom was in the stable. He lef'
his horse and she stopped cooking
long enough to join hands at th'
command of the justice. "Do yo'
take this woman to be your law
full welded wife ?" said the justice
Yes, be does, you bet," was th'
prompt reply of the bride. "D'
! you take this man to be your hus
band, Martha % "Come now
squire, don't be foolish !" said th'
lady, and the justice pronounced
them man and wife. "Why DON
YOU kiss the bride?" said a grut
voice, and they saw the painted
face oe the clown through cracl
Of the door-"You shet up; it
none of your wedding" was tn
ready answer Of the bride, and i
brought down the house. Blu
her finest effort was displayed
moment later, when she snatche'
up ladle and ordered them al
out Of the kitchen tillshe was don
cooking.
The next morning old job
Robinson;s Circus lost a man, an
the Wabash House lost q maid
but the drug store has added anc
ther quinine customer to it's lis
and Shawneetown has gained
new family.
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: Men digging a we'll at Rocheste
Mimi, found log of wood abor
one foot in diameter fifty. five fee