The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-09-12
THE WEDDING FEE.


THE WEDDING FEE.
How VERY dark and stormy it was
on that March evening. The doors and
windows kept up perpetual rattle
violent gusts of winds and dashes Of
rain now and then beat against the house,
rs if bound to seek shelter therein.
Little Robby was sound asleep i'm his
crib. and the minister and his wife
were spending the evening together in
the coy sitting-room.
The hour for retiring had come, and
While MIR. Watson was making the fire
safe for the night, and Mrs. W. was
busting about. picking up and adjust
ing the numberlcss concerns which no.
body but y careful housewife can ever
see or think of, there came u most vio-
lent ring of the bell.
Mercy" exclaimed Mrs. Watson,
Somebody must be dying or dead.
What dreadful night for you to go
out in!'
MIR. Watson opened the door and
peered into the darkness. Not y hui
man being could he see or hear. A few
seconds passed. when loud, rrutf
voice was heard asking:
''Can you splice us to-night?''
For an instant the minister was con-
fused, not being accustomed to the use
of that nautical term i'm relation to the
duties Of his profession. A second
thought, however. made clear TO him
the possibility that splicing might be
within the limits of his particular prov
nee; and SO, raising his voice above
the storm, he replied:
'lf you mean to ask me, sir, to mar
~ you, shall be most happy to per-
form the ceremony. Is the lady with
you?'
Ha! ha! that's Il good one! Sary
Ann you mean? Don't suppose I'd
come to get the knot tied without her,
do yc? No, sir; she's right here in the
cart"
Mr.. Watson need not have stepped
back to inform his wife of the great
event which WAS to take place, for she
had heard all the conversation and was
using her utmost cndeavors to expcl
the laugh from her countenance before
the happy pair appeared.
1t must be confessed that the sight of
the couple was not conducive to CRAWL
ity. They had passed, a good while
before, the bloom of youth, and had
made no special efforts to conceal the
fact. Both had evidently come direct
ly from their work, which, indeed, the
gentleman proceeded to intimate.
Fact is, parson, it's rather bad
night outside; and SO l saws to Sary,
What's the use; let's not fix up bit,
hut 60 jest as we are. The knot II hold
jest as we'll as if we had on our best bib
and tucker And beside, parson, we
want to take the old folks by surprise,
and they'd be sure to 'spect something
if we'd gone to work and put on all the
riggin's."
Mrs. Watson was glad for this little
opportunity to smile, and promptly inn
proved it. What would she not have
given for the privilege Of a good,
hearty laugh.
The brief ceremony concluded, Mr..
and Mrs. Watson extended their con-
CALCULATIONS.
Thar" broke in the ewly-marrietl
man, is the ticket; guess you'll find
it o. X. Now, Sary, let's be goin'
Plaguey tough ride before us. Good
by. parson. GoOd-by, ma'am. Much
obliged for the job. Hope to do as
much for you, some time"
The "cart" ratified away, and Mrs.
Watson, into whose hands her husband
had delivered the certificate, made
haste to open it, thinking that, after
all, it wasn't best to Judge people by
the outside, and that the strange man
might have done something handsome
by way of fee. There it was! A bill!
Yes, and upon it the magnificent fig
urcs of one dollar!
Well, declare" shouted Mrs.
Watson, isn't this too mean for any
thing? Shame ON that MAJ; he don't de-
serve to be married.
Now, my DEAR" said the minister,
you should not bc too hard, for
am sure you had ut least dollar
worth of enjoyment out of the occar
SION"
"Yes, sir, and l noticed somebody
who seemed trying to keep from laugh
ter"
Next day little Robby's shoes were
bought with the wedding fee, the min.
listers pants were brushed and cleaned
for the hundredth time, and the good
lady, by dint of extraordinary manage.
ment, made the old dress answer an ex.
cellent purpose.
The spring passed away, and the
summer in all its beautiful bloom and
abundant fruitfulness came on. The
wedding on the stormy night had al
most passed from the minds of thu
minister and his wife; albeit, now anC
then she would break out with a laugh
and ask her husband if he didn't thinl
it was nearly time to splice another
couple. -
One day. as the happy little family
were eating their dinner, and Just q.
the parents were feeling uncommon,
proud OF some smart thing little Robby
had SAID. there came just such another
ringing OF the bell as that heard on thu
stormy night.
"Well, there" said Mrs. Watson
zone would think for all the world thai
that splice-man had come again.
Before the minister could reach tn,
door it was opened, and, astonishing Il
relate, there stood the identical hero O
the wedding occasion.
Afternoon, parson, and ma am
hain't forgot me. have YEP 'Membe
that job YOU did for me last spring
Never did anything better in that line
bet your life. Didn't know then how
'twould turn out. Gettin' married i
kinder risky aayhowv-But YOU won
find happier pair this side o. Canaan
that's sure. And so thought 'twa,
bout time ! brought along the rest o.