Middletown transcript., 1876-09-09
wHrsss Ar:wEDD1ras.

nrSt Wed0lng ne ever mac, tnOugnt
was a very good time to impress upoI
the couple before him the solemnity 0
the act. M s
Il hope Dennis" he said to tn,
coachman, with his license in his hand
"you have well considered this solemn
step in life'
II hope SO, your reverence" ans
wered Dennis.
"It's very important step you are
taking. Mary" said the minister.
"Yes, sir, l know it is." replied
Mary. whimpering. perhaps we had
better wait awhile. y r
Perhaps we had, your riverence,
chimed in Dennis.
The minister, hardly expecting such
personal application Of his exhorta-
ton, and seeing the five dollar note
vanishing before his eyes, betook him.
self to more cheerful aspect Of the
situation, and said
Eyes, of course, it's solemn and inn
portant, you know. but it's a very happy
time, after all, when people love each
other Shall we 60 on with the SER
vice p -YY "
"Yes, your reverence" they both
replied, and they we're soon made one
in the bands of matrimouy, and that
young minister is now very careful how
he brings on the solemn view of mar
riagc to couples.
A party came to aclergyman's house
one evening to be married Every
thing went on harmoniously until the
woman came to the word "obey" in the
service. Here balky scene snsued.
"Never-never" " she said / did not
know that word was in the service, and
l will never say it!'
"Oh. dear" demonstrated her part
ner, edo not make trouble now. just
say it, say it even if you do not mean
it. Say it for my sake-for your dear
Johns sakev'
sNever-never !" insisted the high
spirited dame. II will not say what I
do not mean, and I do not mean to
obey. You must 60 on, SIR" she
added to the clergyman, without that
word"
"Tbat is impossible, madam" replied
the minister. Il cannot marry you
unless you promise 'to love, cherish,
and obey your husband. kM
"Won't you leave US little time to-
gether ?" interceded the young man.
'"I think l can manage her after little
while"
So the minister went back into bis
study and wrote on bis sermon for an
hour and half, and finally, at quar-
ter before ten o'clock, there
''# Came tapping
As of some one gently rapping." i
And the mild-mannered Benedict in
formed the psrson that at last after
long wrestling Of spirit, his "dear
Jane" had consented to say "obey."
But how that compromise was brought
about no one ever knew
I have often heard this same clergy
man relate how after wedding cere-
mony on one occasion, which occurred
in his own parlor, the husband whis-
pered to his brand new bride, as they
approached the door "Mary, have you
got any small change :"
The old Sweedes' church in Philadel-
phia was the famous marrying ground
for nearly two hundred years to all the
neighborhood and the churches in that
The record book of that ven
cradle parish ia teeming With marriages.
There has been an "extensionY made to
every new register. Notes and memo
randa adorn the pages of the wedding
columns" explanatory of the different
couples. One clergyman kept list Of
'oreign sailors, with a wife very proba-
'ly in every large port, and runaway
country girls whom be had refused to
mite in matrimony because OF his sus-
,icions, or because of the lateness Of
be hour or the absence of witnesses.
Jolored weddings have always richly
humorous side. The colored race is q
usceptible, initiative one. and when
hey are fine, as at weddings. they are
superfne.
A clergyman was called upon on one
ccasion to oficiate at colored we'd
ing.
"We assure you, sah," said the gen.
lemanly darkey, "thas this yer we'd
ing, sab, is to be very 'appropos'
ute la mode, sah." 4
"Very well" said the clergyman. II
ill try to do everything in my power
. crafty the wishes of the parties"
So. after dinner, dancing and supper
7as over the groom's "best man" called
gain on the minister and left him
en- dollar fee.
II hope everything was as your
riepds desired it?'' said the urbane1
lergyman.
well. sah. to tell the truth, Mr..
ohnson was a little disappointed"
nswered the polite groomsman.
why, took my robes" said the
,inister.
"Yes, sah-it wasn't that"
II adhered to the rubrics of the
hurch"
Yes. sab, that was all right"
II was punctual, and shook hands
18th the couple. What more could | dor
well, sab, Mr.. johnson be kind O.
1t hurt, you see. because you didn't
llute the bride !'
| remember friend who, in the early
ears Of his ministry, was met by a
,uple as be came out Of The church,
ho wanted to be married. He turned :
ack to oblige the party, and found at
st that they had made up their minds :
drive off in their buggy to some
her church,
but may ask" he inquired of the
an. "why you first asked me to
AIRY you, and then change your minds
this wav 2" u -