The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-27

!
The fruit prospects in this locality
are flattering. Apples. pears. plums
aud cherries are uniujured yet. The
peach crop will be fair,if nothing hap.
pens hereafter. BE Z
The flow of sap the present season
/ has been more than an average, and
has yielded a ane income to those who
have ayailed themselves of some, il
not all, the modern improvements in
sugarmaking. Three camps in one
neightierheed owned by f. NJ, e. III.
and A. Udall, have run 1900 bb,s. sap,
of the yaiue OF $500.
April FooL.-One of our best citi.
zens happened to be born April lst,
about fifty-siX years ago: and being
somewhat inclined to funny tricks
by nature-and not Oh account of the
day of his birth has been very success
ful i'll playing innocent practical jokes.
A couple of ladies moved by the same
spirit resolved 10 retaliate, and play
upon him birthday trick. So they
kept watch tor the first hour of 'sall
fools day." beguiling the weary hours
with checkers and chess, till II O'Clock,
midnight. Then, having prepared
themselves, for race, for they did
not mean to be caught, they cautious
ly wendea their way through drifts of
snow, being piled higher by the furi-
Gus sterm-to the residence of our
slumbering friend. The quiet within
was undisturbed, save by the sonoroas
melody of deep sleep. Then COM
menced a furious rapping and stamp
ing by the ladies. "Who's there" !"
came from an excited voice within.
The rapping and stamping increased
in violence. Visions of fire, burglars.
and murder flashed through our
friends mind, being so violently
aroused from his deep slumbers. He
leapt from his bed and tried to put on
his pants, but failed while the rap
ping and stamping without was more
violent. He lit his lamp, and rushed
en-dishobille, for the door. The la
dies had fair view of him through
the uncurtained window, and they
fled for dear life. Our friend opened
the door and peered out into the storm.
He beheld two female forms hastily
retreating, but they turned and salut-
ed him with "April fool" lie set his
his lamp down and bonded out after
his tormentors. lie made good time.
but the ladies had too much the start,
and reached their rendezvous in safe
ty. Our friend, returned to the house
and as he waded through the deep
snow drifts, his neither garment the
sport of the wind, he solilequised, on
the accidents of birth. lie says he
will petition the legislature TO change
the day. ta..,..
a SENsATIoN.-Our people have
had, of late, considerable sport and
speculation regarding a marriage. the
status of which is not yet settled sat-
isfactOrly. One of our citizens. a ma
tive to the manor born, and somewhat
advanced in years, who has twice
been married and as manytimes bereft;
concluded he rather liked it as far as
he had gone, and resolved TO make an
other venture. Being somewhat
pressed with worldly cares he had not
time to make extensive enquiry as 10
who would suit him best, SO he turn.
ed his attentions to his nearest neigh.
bor's daughter. lie proposed, and she
consented to be partner number three.
Preparations were brief; and one
evening, not long ago, he "histed" a
jug of maple molasses into his buggy
and then "histed" in the bride, and
the three went, moi to the magistrate
nor minister, bnt to enc Of the Elders.
TenGerly, with one hand, he led his
blushing bride, while with the other,
he carried the jug into the presence of
the Elder, and requested to be Joined
in matrimony-that is, he and the
bride, while the jug and its contents
was to be covenant, and henceforth
a reminder of the plighted vows there
to be taken. Now the Elder is good
man, conscientious man, an honest
man, well versed in Divine law, but
making no pretensiens to knowledge
Of statute law, more than men in gen.
eral. In fact, if all men were like him
there would be no need of laws. He
denied his authority to selemnize
marriage. He was not miaister and
had no license if he was But our
friend knew better, an Elder could
marry as we'll as a minister, and no
license was necessary. Being stub
born man and knowing himself inca
pable Of an error, and the Elder being
the very opposite, yielded, and, so far
as he could, made them one. The
magnates of the church Investigated
the matter and concluded that the
Elder had ne authority to solemnize
and something must be
done. The Elder was somewhat
and on the third day after the
marriage he started in the gray of the
morning to inform his friends that
they were not married, but living in q
state OF sin. The Elder waa urgent
and meant business, che stayed not for
brake, he stopped not for stone," but
down through the thickly populated
regions of "Pigwocket" he rode with
John Gilpin speed aud aroused the
loving pair from their sweet repose.
There was consultation in the wood
she'd and the conclusion was that the
Elder should procure n license dated
two days before the marriage, and IL
was done. The query however is
not satisfactorily answered. and the