The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-03-12
MISCELLANY.
NELLY'S WEDDING.
BY WAf. II. MAHER.

declare, | could no more realize tha
our Nelly was about to be married, than
could account for the white hairs that Kit
typOints out to me in my hair and whiskers
do not know where the years have gone
Kitty and / very often speak of these years
but not as if they had passed away from
us; they are more like old friends who art
just as dear as when we first knew them
Just as securely nestled among the gOoC
things i'm our hearts.
Yes, God has been very good to us. This
thought is never out of our mind. He has
guided our lives with so loving a hand
that the years have passed away and left
no sign.
Not that they were all sunshine OF
laughter. Nav. there were many days OF
weeping, and there is tremOr, even now,
in kitty's voice, whenever she speaks OF
two little hearts that were taken to heaven
before they had reached their tenth year
All laughter? No, thank God now, tru-
ly and heartily, for the sadness that came
to us, just as truly and heartily as | thank
Him for all our happiness.
Death has no terrOrs for us when it will
but take us from our children on earth 10
our children IN heaven, and if we had not
known what it was TO suffer we could not
have understood how to sympathiZe with
Others who mOurned.
And yet, rs | said before, | could not re-
alize that all these years had passed over
me, and that our Nelly, our darling, was
old enough to leave us.
To be sure | saw that Tom Baron was a
very constant visitor at our house, but he
played and sang great deal more with
Grace than he did with her older sister
Nelly, and he always had some question to
ask me, and was sure to find occasion tC
have a chat with Kitty; so that l had nc
reason to think the boy had any idea OF
marrying, and especially of marrying Our
Nelly.
Kitty saw it all and supposed that did
but then Kitty Is much quicker to see tC
the bottom of things than am.
| was quite taken aback when Tom told
me he wanted to marry Nelly.
''Marry Nellyi' said /, ''why, bless US,
TUm- you are only a couple of children -
Tom laughed. as he answered. Il am
twenty-fOur. and Nelly Is twenty
Il know" said L: :. but then what is
twenty? Why the girl is but child yet. -
"Weare old enough TO love each other -
said he, and with quick dignity that made
..me respect the boy more.
You have spoken to Nelly then ~
asked.
Yes, sir, l have told Nelly that love
her"
And what did she say?'
"She consented TO become my wife il
you and her mother consented"
I" But she didn't say that she loved you
Come now, she didn't say that she loved
you. did she?'
There was no need Of saying it. Isaw
it in her face"
Just then Kitty came in the room, and |
must say | felt relieved to see her.
What do you suppose Tom has been
telling me?'' asked her.
/" From the puzzled look in your face |
should imagine it was something strange" ."
"Why," said |, dashing into the sub
iect, 1.-The boy wants to marry Nelly!'
She didn't look at all surprised, as |
imagined she would.
"Well.r said she, in her tenderest way.
I'VE haven't any fault to find with Tom,
have we?'
"Fault.' said |, more puzzled than ever
at the cool way she took it. But they are
a couple Of children yet,n
Just two such children as you and
were, Dick. We can certainly trust our
Nelly with Tom, father, and am glad and
thankful that she has won so gOOda mans
love-" She stopped over as she said the
words and kissed Tom. and | know she
had taken him into her heart of hearts
where she held me and the children.
Of course there was no use of NV saving
anything more except to give him fatherly
counsel, and then TO call Nelly i'm and kiss
them both.
As she came into the room I acknowl-
edged to myself that she was a woman.
and | had no fears but that she would be a
good wife; for a better or more loving
daughter never lived.
saarnal IN mo I'nu1 n-ac var.tr
to be married, but whenever [ said this to
Kitty. she laughed and recalled some OF
the speeches had made in Ouryoung days.
Nelly was not so constantly sewing but
that she and had long walks and talks
together. and the dear child was so like
her mother, | could fancy | was young
and chatting again with Kitty. And Tom
and | We're often together too. | found
him rs full of hope and ambition as he
could well be. but with thoroughly good
heart, and desire to be happy and COM
Portable rather than rich and stylish.
At last the day came when we were TO
give Our Nelly into the hands of another.
1t was a lovely day in June. and | hope it
was toreShadOwiBg of what their lives
should be.
1t seemed TO me too solemn an occasion
Tor theatrical show or flourish. They
~
ceremony that is bound by Gods Ordi-
nance; VOWS that reach even beyond the
grave, should only be given under the roof
of Gods house.
There Were no bridesmaids or grOOms-
men. Nelly, dressed in a simple white
dress and with a few orange flowers in her
hair. walked up the aisle on Toms arm.
and there. IN the solemn quietness of The
church, with the voice of Gods servant
sounding in their hearts, they were made
one.
l knew had not lost my daughter. |
knew that her love was mine thar day. To-
morrow, forever; just as it was when she
sat on my knee; but still. perhaps l am
growing childish. could not keep back
the tears.
Not crying, Dick!" said Kitty; and
her own voice was not too steady.
Yes" said l. "but | don't know
why. L am certain we have not lost OuT
child"
THAT we haven't,'' said Kitty; ''she will
always be our child.''
There was no party after the ceremony.
Toms people and our family made a
go0dly number TO gather around the table.
and we fingered long over our dinner as
if we dreaded TO part. But the hour for
parting came; Tom and Nelly were oblig-
edto hurry 10 catch the train that was 10
carry them 10 quiet place by the seaside,
Nhene they were to Spend-not all. please
1oo-but The first two weeks of the hon
eymoon..
Such pleasant letters as came 10 rs from
them both in those days! Nearly every
day Grace brought me one and called all