River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-17
THE WEDDING FkE.

windows kept up perpetual ra".le;
violent gusts OF winds and dashes of sain
now and then beat against the house; as
if bound to seek shelter therein.
Little Robby was sound asleep in his |
crib, and the minister and his wife were
spending the evening together in the cozy
sitting-room.
The hour of retiring had come, and !
while Mr.. Watson was making the fire |
safe for the night, and Mrs. w. was bustl- |
ing about, picking up and adjusting the |
numberless concerns which nobody bat !
careful housewife can ever see or think !
of, there came most violent ring of the |
bell.
"Mercy2" exclaimed Mrs. Watqon,
''Somebody must be dying or dead |
What dreadful night for you to go out
inlr
Mr. Watson opened the door end peer
ed into the darkness. Not a human be
ing could ne see or hear. A few seconds |
passed, when loud, gruff voice was
heard asking:
"Can you splice us to-night9"
For an instant the minister was con
fused, not being accustomed TO the u.s. Of
of that nautical term in relation TO the |
duties of his profession. A second |
thought, however, made clear to him The |
possibility that splicing might be witain
the limits of his particular province; and |
so, raising his voice above the storm, he |
replied:
iii you mean to ask me sir, 20 mary
you, shall be most happy to perfo-m |
the ceremony. Is the lady with your
"Ha ha! that's good one Sary Ann
you mean2 Don't suppose Id coIne to
get the knot tied without her do ye? No, |
sir; she's right here in the cat"
Mr. Watson need not step back to in
form his wife of the great event which |
was TO take place, for she had heard all |
the conversation and was using her Mt |
most endeavors to expel the laugh from |
her countenance before the happy pair |
appeared.
1t must be confessed that the sight of !
the couple was not conducive to gravity. |
They had passed the bloom of youth, and |
had made no special effort 10 conceal the
fact. Both had evidently come directly
from their work, which indeed, the gen
tleman proceeded to intimate.
Fact is, parsOn, It's rather a bad night
outside; and so I says to Sary, whats the
use; let's not fix up bit, but go just as
we are The knotll hold Jest as well as
if we had on orr best bib and tucker /
And beside, parson, we want 10 take The !
old folks by surprise, and they'd be sure |
TO suspect something if we'd gone to work
and put on all the higgins"
Mrs. Watson was GLAD for this litEle |
opportunity to smile, and promptly iin-
proved it, What would she not have |
given for the privilege of good hearty
laugh.
The brief ceremony corcluded, Mr.. ard |
Mrs. Watson extended their congratua.
tons.
Thar" broke in the newly married
man, ''is the ticket; guess you'll find it |
o. X. Now, Sary, let's be goin'. PlagHey |
tough ride before us. Good by, parsCn.
Good-by, ma'am Much Obliged for the |
job. Hope to do as much for you, SOME
time"
"The cart F" ratified away, and Mrs
Watson, into whose hands her husband
had delivered the certificate, mpde haste
to open it, thinking that, after all, it
wasn't best to judge people by the OUT
side, and that the strange man might
have done something handsome by way
of fee There it wasl A. bill Yes,
and upon it the magnificent figures Of ore
dollarl
0Well, declare,n shouted Mrs. Wat
son, "isnt this TOO mean for anything2
Shame on that man; he don't deserve to
be married"
Now, my dear" said the minister,
''you should not be too hard, for | am
sure you had at least dollars worth If
enjoyment out of the occasion"
Yes, sir, and | noticed somebody who
eemed trying to keep from laughter.
Next day little Bobby's shoes were
bought with the wedding fee. the minis
ter's pants were brushed and cleaned foy
the hundredth time, and the good lady,
by dint of extraordinary management,
made the old dress answer an excellent
purpose.
The spring passed away, and the sum-
mer in all its beautiful bloom and abund-
ant fruiduiness came on. The wedding
on the stormy night had almost passed
from the minds OF the minister and his
wife; albeit, she would break out with
laugh, and ask her husband if he didn'S
think it was nearly time to splice anothes
couple.
One day, as the happy little family were
eating their dinner, and just as the pa
rents were feeling uncommonly proud al
some smart thing little R0bbY bad said,
there came Just such another ringing Ct
the bell as that heard on the stormy night.
''Well, there" said Mrs Watson, zone
would think for all the world that that
splice-man had come again h
Before the minister could reach the
door it was opened, and, astonishing to
relate, there stood the identical hero OF
the wedding occasion.
Afternoon, paTson, and ma'am, hain'a ,
forgot me, have ye? Member that Job yop
did for me last spring. Never did anye
thing better in that line, bet your life, /
Didn't know then how it 'twould turn !
out. Citizen married is binder risky any
how. But you won't find happier pair
this side o. Canaan, that's SIRE. And so
thought twas time ] brought along the
rest Of the fee. WheI'll you have these
things, parsonl'
The minister went TO the door, sndt v
there was the cart literally loaded with .
fruit and vegetables Of every description
Such store was never before brought !.
into that housed
"Oh, don't trouble,yOurself bout thank
ing for this, said the man.
Nothing but fair trade, you know S
But if you must thank somebody, THANH q
Sary Ann This garden sass is from her. c
She kinder thought 'twould relish this j
hot weather. Master hot and dry, pastor, +
this season. Been 'spectiDg the crops t
:. ouldn't mount TO Io,hin, but they Is a
o citing on fast rate. The Lort general !
IL brings things round bout right, / /
notice Don't 60 much on the churches {
and plaguey little on some Of the memb- i
ers, but you don't catch me going back }
on the Lord. Was ttllin' Sary only last 5
week we must 20 over and hear you j
preach some pleasant Sunday S'pose !
you give 'em the ra'al Bible religion !
don't yel That's what all say they do, |
anyhow"
This minister and his wife had but lit \ i
tie opportunity to utter a word. their friend {
was so laxative; but they would insist I