The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-10-21
MINNIE,s WEDDING DAY.

MINNIE'S WEDDING DAY.
How we got through the dressing in
time, l don't know. That dreadful Miss
Minkin, the milliner, never sent home
my veil till nearly 10 o'clock; and as
soon as 1 had put my dress on we dis
covered that the said intelligent Miss
Minken had left all the tackings in. 1t
was 10:45 before they began to put on
my veil, and everybody knows what a
time that takes. And there was poor
darling Fred down in the church, in a
terrible state I was certain. He had
come over so early. l saw him drive
past to the church when 1 was only
well, 1 needn't say how far advanced I
was in my toilet. Not very far, I know.
After a great deal of fussation, during
which 1 had asked Pipcher-Pipcher is
my maid-three times for the powder
puff when 1 meant the pins, and four
times for my goloshes when 1 meant
gloves. Oh, dear, what a long sentence!
well, after all this, l was ready at last.
Pipcher pulled out the train of my
dress to its uttermost length; and leav-
ing its extreme end somewhere near my
bedroom window, I proceeded to walk
down stairs, concluding that I, like Bo-
peeps sensible sheep, should manage to
bring my tail behind me.
Down In the hall was dear papa, pac-
ing to and fro In a perfect fever of ex-
citement, nervousness and sorrow, which,
dear good man, he tried to conceal, but
failed miserably. 1 suppose he was sorry
to be losing his little girl. Suppose! I
know he was. Was not I sorry-very,
very sorTy-to be leaving him2
He had put on his gloves twice al
ready, and had taken them off, and was
proceeding for the third time to do like
wise, when he discovered that he had q
pair of shabby old driving gloves, in
stead of the white kids that were slum-
beriDg neglected in his cnest of drawers,
between one very high white collar and
two very large pocket han~dkerchiefs. /
was by no means in the sprightly mood
In which I may now seem to be indulg-
ing. On the contrary, 1 felt particularly
sober, quiet and nervous; with a great
lump surging ever upward in my throat,
and no strength at all in my knocking
knees.
"Wel, my DEAR" said papa, feebly
jocular-"ready at last ?"
And /, having nothing more original
to remark in response, intimated that
And SO off I went. The bridesmaids
had, of course, gone down to the church
long before. / was a great deal toe
frightened and hustered to say a word
to papa as we walked along the garden
path, and through the garden gate into
the churchyard. There was no need fol
carriages. And, luckily, the day was
mild, though in the winter; and bright
though mild.
cannot attempt to describe the seen,
In church. I only saw a great, misty
sea of faces and parti-colored raiment
end, In the midst of it all, my dear ole
darling-he's not a bit old, you know
really-standing and looking very white
1 fancied, but very loving all the same
The organist was playing as we movet
up the aisle; but what I have not tn
faintest conception. The only thin,
that / recollect in connection with tn
musical portion of the service was tina
the choir seemed to be a very unneces
sary long time in getting through tn
psalm set forth for the special purpose
I also have a recollection that I poke
out the wrong finger of the wron
hand TO receive the ring, whereat Fred
got very red and fustered; and as
Just at this juncture, somebody droppe
a ponderous family prayer-book, th
loose leaves of which huttered GRACEFUL
In various directions, this interestin
portion of the marriage ceremony Wa
hardly performed with BETTING dignity
However, "all things glad or sad
must have IN end. So an end duly cam
to the service ; and, leaning on my dal
hng's arm, my own true husband mo-
forever; and, conscious that I was lool
ing very frightened and interesting witt
al-for are not all brides interesting?
passed down the aisle, through til
thronging faces, out into the bright wiz
ter noon, up the garden path into th
old home. Can I describe the kissing
and crying, and congratulations that too
place in N room, or the breakfast lai
and the speeches made in anothe,
Fred's short response, or the doctor
rounded rhetoric; or the bowling of m
darling's dog Doddles, when MuggleI
the waiter we had in from Blanktol
super Mare, trod heavily on his tail, i
vainly endeavoring to look as though h
the said Muggles. was not testing tt
quality of papa's wine in the corner b.
hind the door?
Well, it was all over at last. The fin
grain of rice-which by the way lodge
In Fred's left whisker-had been throw
we didn't goin for slippers, you see; IL
last benediction had been bestowed
the energetical bosom of William IL
gardener, who stood at the gate to cate
the last of Us; and we were at length t.
gether alone, my husband and 1. M
husbandI How strange, and yet no
delicious it was. To think he wa no
mine forever. "Til death do us part
sounded very fond and true. But Il
words coniured up no terror of Il
"shadow feared Of man." Death W
too far away a phantom to be feare
And I only heard a loving voice at n
side saying:
Darling, darling little woma1
Mine at last !" and felt perfectly sil
with happiness accordingly.
There were plenty of villagers at the
cottage doors and windows, and many
a head bobbed beamingly at us, as '
rolled along stationward through t
winter sunlight. The station reached
a small, sleepy junction on the Brist
and Exeter hne-we got out of the c.
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