The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-10-22
AN ODD COUPLE.

TIOW very dark and stormy It was on
III that March evening. The doors
and windows kept up perpetual rattle
violent gusts Of wind and dashes Of rain
now and then beat against the house, as
IL 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 for retiring had come, and
while Mr.. Watson was making the fire
safe for the night, and Mrs. w. was
bustling about, picking up and adjust
ing the numberless concerns which no.
body but careful housewife can ever
see or think of, there came 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 -
Mr.. Watson opened the door and
peered into the darkness. Not human
being could he see or hear. A few
seconds passed when loud, gruf voice
was heard asking:
Can you splice us to-nightY"
For an instant the minister was con-
fused, not being accustomed to the use
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
within the limits of his particular pro-
vince and so, raising his voice above
the storm, he replied:
If you mean to ask me, sir, to marry
you, shall be most happy to perform
the ceremoney. Is the lady with you ?"
Ha ha that's good one Sary
Ann you meanp Don't suppose I'd
come to get the knot tied without her,
do ye? 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 endeavors to expel
the laugh from her countenance before
Une nappy pair appeared
1t must be confessed that the sight of
the couple was not conducive to gravity.
They had passed, a good while beyond
the bloom of youth, and had made no
special efforts to conceal the fact. Both
had evidently come directly from their
work, which, indeed, the gentleman pro-
ceeded to intimate.
Fact is, parson, It's rather bad
night outside; and SO says to Sary,
What's the use; let's not fix upa bit,
but go jest as we are. The knotll hold
jest as well 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 i'm
proved it. What would she not have
given for the privilege of good, hearty
laugh,
The brief ceremoney concluded, Mr..
and Mrs. Watson extended their con-
gratulations.
Thar" broke in the newly-married
man, " is the ticket guess you'll find
it o. X. Now, Sary, let's be goin'.
Plaguey touch 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 out
side, 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 figures
of one dollar
"Well, 1 declare" shouted Mrs. Wat
son, "isn't this too mean for anything
Shame on that man; he don't deserve
to be married."
"Now, my DEAR" said the minister,
''you should not be too hard, for l am
sure you had at least a dollars worth of
enjoyment out of the occasion.'
''Yes, sir, and 1 noticed somebody
else who seemed trying to keep from
laughter"
Next day little Robby's shoes were
bought with the wedding fee, the minis
ters pants were brushed and cleaned for
the hundreth time, and the good lady,
by dlnt of extraordinary management,