The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-03-23

Sweet Home and Annie Laurie and
it will be better than wedding feast,
besides saving us the toll and drudgery
and expense"
"But, Edna, such conduct is unbe-
coming in woman. 1 should feel dis
graced to see you thus before the public"
Edna laughed long and merrily.
"What would John say ?" continued
Aunt Judy.
81 haven't asked him, and don't
mean to-" was the firm reply. "What
has he done for me that should bow to
his fiat? Haven't you counseled me to
be my own arbiter, all alOng?"
Unable to cope with Edna in the
argument that she saw just ready to as
sumo formidable proportions, Aunt
Judy changed the subject, and the prep
arations for the wedding on the follow
ing Sunday went briskly and regularly
on.
A carpenter in Idaho Flat, who was a
genius in his way, prepared wooden
cards of invitation with jack-plane,
upon which Edna inscribed in bold let
ters the name of every miner in the
neighborhood, requesting his attend
ance at the booth on the auspicious oc-
casion.
''I shall invite Sue Randolph among
the rest, auntie," she said, decidedly.
This announcement shocked Aunt
Judy as much as did her determination
to give the miners a benefit, but Edna
was determined, and the good woman
was obliged to yield, especially since
Mr.. LaSelle had decided in Edna's favor.
The wedding morning dawned with
delicious, mellow radiance, and the sun
rode high in limpid, rOseate splendOr
over the adjacent mountains.
The miners, one and all, seemed actu-
ated by desire to look their best. Old
razors that had long lain away in rusty
idleness, were rescued from their hid
ing places and whetted on old leather
boot tops. White shirts, or "b'iled"
ones, as the miners call them, were un-
earthed from old valises, and many a
pair of trowsers was treated to clean
patches on basement and knees.
The services were to begin at ten A.
NJ, Mr.. Handel opening the exercises
by singing,
"Joy to the world p ETC., etc.,
In which a chorus of unframed voices
Joined Justify, and the very welkin rang
with rasping melody.
The sermon was a short one, the text,
at is not good for man to be alone" ,"
forming its appropriate heading.
81 hope he'll be short" said Aunt
Judy, as, dressed in an antiquated and
plum-colored garb of alpaca, her head
adorned with a voluminous cap of we'll
starched lace, tied loosely beneath her
double chin, she walked with a per-
ceptible rheumatic limp beside the tall,
straight, and supple groom, while both
were as radiant as the rosy morning.
81 join you in the hope, darling" was
the ardent reply, "for when the mar
riage ceremony is over you will be all
, my own.n
, Edna laid blanket and pillows be.
meath the shadow of the booth, and
T placed her little ones there, surrounded
with primitive playthings; and many
miner was more attracted by the
chubby children than by the sermon ol
g promised ceremony. All were in {
; mood to be pleased with everything
they saw and heard. Mr.. Handel haC
the good sense to be short in both ser
/, mon and ceremony, after which he an
uounced that they were to be treated t,
o some exercises which, although he die
not absolutely approve, he had beef
> compelled to assent to.
Z Saying this he left the platform, ant
Edna emerged from her "green room,
4 personating spring. Her dress was O
., old-fashioned grenadine, cut low in th
neck and short in the sleeves, and wa
# covered with grasses, ferns, and flower
= gathered from the adjacent gulches
- while her flowing hair was literall
smothered in mountain ivies.
- The silence was death-like. No on
- had looked for such a demonstration
= Tears rolled down many a swarth
\ cheek.
n Il come 1 come from the vernal lands
:. Where the rivers OF life are flowing;
~ I come I come from the golden sands
S. That dazzle the eyes of the angel bands;
at And the seeds of summer I'm sowing"
lie She said, as, scattering upon the cart
handful of grain, she proceeded to r,
IT cite stanza after stanza, her deelamatio
D" being as earnest as her sentiment, an
r all being beautiful.
to Her presentation of summer and al
D. tumn, though good, was not as compile
to as spring, because of the absence of mo
or of the fruits and cereals belonging
er those seasons, but sentiments and rel
dition were alike faultless, while Il
s, simple, old-time ballads which 81
Ii sandwiched between the acts were e.
We quisite.
n Gold and silver pieces were thrown
her feet like haiI-stones, and as 81
stopped, blushing and radiant, to gath
them up, it was little wonder she
g! came infected with stage mania,