South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-06-25

took them and prayed over them. that
IN parting with the last penny, this cou-
pie might have parted with vice, a
wicked, foolish practice which had re-
duced them to such degree Of poverty
and Indebtedness that the monster pows
err OF rum could hardly send its victims
lower.
So Tom and Mag were transformed
into Mr.. and Mrs. Elting. and having
grown somewhat more sober while i'm the
house, seemed to fully understand their
new position, and all the obligations
they had taken upon themselves.
For few days thought occasionally
Of this twoApenny marriage, and then it
became absorbed with thousand other
scenes of Indebtedness which / have
witnessed since L have lived in this cen.
tire OF city misery. Tine wore on aud
married ieany other couples--often
those who came IN their carriage and
left golden marriage fee--a delicate
way Of giving to the needy-but among
all III had never performed the rite for a
couple quite so low rs that of this two
penny fee, and / resolved never would
again. At length, however, had call
for fall match TO them, which | res
fused.
"Why do you come to me to be mar
ried, my FRIEND" said | to the MANI
"foa are both toe poor 10 live separate
and besides you are both terrible drunk
ards, know you are?''
That is just what we want TO get
married for and take the pledge"
Take that frst:"
mo, we must take all together. no:
thing else will save use"
"Will that2'
lit did one Of my friends
well, then, go and bring that friend
here: let me see and hear how much it
saved him, and then will make UP my
mind what TO dos if can do you any
good / want to do it."
my friend is at work-he has got a
good job and several hands working for
him and is making money. an won't
quit till night. Shall come this eve.
ning?'
"Yes, will stay at home and wait for
you"
Il little expected to see him again,
but about g o'clock the servant said that
a man and his girk with gentleman and
tady. were waiting in the reception room.
told him TO ask the lady and gentle.
man to walk up to the parior and sit a
moment; while sent the candidates for
marriage away, being determined never
to unite another drunken couple, not
dreaming that there was any sympathy
between the parties. But they would
not come up; they wanted to see that
couple married. So L went down and
found the squalidly wretched pair in com.
pany with n well.dressed laboring man,
for he wore fine black coat, silk vest.
gold watch chain, clean white shirt and
cravat, polished calfskin boots, and
his wife was just as neat and tidily dress,
ed as anybody's wife, and her face
beamed with intelligence, and the way
in which she chung to the arm of her
husband, as she seemed to shrink from
sight, told that she was a loving rs well
as pretty wife,
This couple" says The gentleman,
"have come TO be married.
Yes, / know it, but | have refused.
Look ut them; do they look like fit sub
jects for such holy ordinance? God
never intended those whom lie created
in his own image should live in matrmo-
ny like this man and woman. cannot
marry them"
"Cannotl Why not? Yoa married us
when we were worse off-more dirty
worse clothed, and more intoxicated"
The woman shrunk back little more
out OF sight. | saw she trembled VIC.
lently, and put her clean cambria hand.
kerchief up TO her eyes
What could it mean? Married them
when worse Off? Who were they?
"1ave you forgotten us?" said tho
woman, taking my hands in hers, and
dropping on her knees; "have you for
gotten drunken Tom and Mag? We
have never forgotten you, but pray for
you every day."
"Ifyou have forgotten them, you have
not forgotten the two-penny marriage.
No wonder you did not know MS.
told Matilda she need not he afraid. or n.
shamed, IL you did know her. But /
knew you would not. How could you We
were in rags and dirt then. Look At hs
now. All your work, Sir MI the bles.
sings OF that pledge aud that marriage
and that good advice you gave rs. LOOK
At TINS suit OF clothes, and her dress
all Matilda's work, every stitch of Il.
Come and look at our house, as neat as
she Is. Everything in Il TO make a com.
Portable home; and oh, Sir, there il \
cradle in our bedroom Five hundred
dollars already in bank, and / shall add
as much more next week when finish
my job. So much for one year OF p so.
Der life, and faithful. honest, good
vile. Now, this man Is as good n work
man ne / am, only ne is bound down
with the CALLING letters Of drunkenness.
ana living With this woman just as Ibid.
Now, he thinks that he can reform lust
as we'll as me but he thinks he must
take the pledge Of the same man, and
have his first effort sanctifed with the
same blessings and then. with good
resolution, and Matilda and me TO watch
over them, ] do believe they will sue.