The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-16
THE WEDDING FEE.

How very dark and stormy It was on
that March evening. The doors and
windows kept up q perpetual rattle;
violent gusts OF winds and dashes of rain
now and then beat against the house, as
if bound to seek shelter therein.
H 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 but
careful housewife can ever see or think
OF, there came most violent ring of the
bell. f #"e& T5t
"Mercy9" exclaimed Mrs. Watson,
Somebody must be dying or dead.
What dreadful night for you to go out
in!" "aEa .=ss ~. a~o t
Mr.. Watson opened the door and peer
ed into the darkness. Not human be-
ing could he see or hear. A few seconds
passed, when loud, gruff voice was
heard asking: ".
"Can you splice us tonight"
For an instant the minister was con-
fused, not being accustomed to the use 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 within
the limits of his particular province; and
so, raising his voice above the storm, he
replied: z... ICY.
1T you mean to ask me sir, 70 marry
you, shall be most happy to perform
the ceremony. Is the lady with you2"
''Ha ha! that's good onel Sary Ann
you mean2 Don't suppose I'd come to
get the knot tied without herd yea No,
sir; she's right here in the cart"
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 ut
most endeavors to expel the laugh from
her countenance before the happy pair
appeared.
It must be confessed that the sight of
the couple was not conductive to gravity.
They had passed the bloom of youth, and
had made no special effort to 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 bad night
outside; and so I says to Sary, what's the
use; let's not fix up bit, but 90 just as
we are. The knot'll hold jest as well as
if we had on onr best bib and tucker
And beside, parson, we want to 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 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. ...... h..
The brief ceremony concluded, Mr.. and
Mrs. Watson extended their congratula-
tons.
"Thar," broke in the newly married
man, lis the ticket; guess you'll find it
o. K. Now, Sary, let's be goin'. Plaguey
tough ride before us. Good-by, parson.
Good-by, ma'am. Much obliged tor the
job. Hope to do as much for you, some
time" f.
"The "cart" ratified away, and Mrs.
Watson. into whose hands her husband
had delivered the certificate, mode haste
to open it, thinking that, after all, it
wasn't best to judge people by the out
side, and that the stran ge 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! ..a e.. ." p. 49, >..N ...
"Well, declare" shouted Mrs. Wat
son, "isn't this too mean for anythings
Shame on that man; he don't deserve to
be married." $3.50, .-r
s.Now, my DEAR" said, the minister,
"you should not be too hard, for am
sure you had at least dollars worth o.
enjoyment out of the occasion"
Eyes, sir, and I 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 fol-
the hundredth time, and the good lady
by dint Of extraordinary management
made the old dress answer an excellent
purpose. ..'. &c.. .,.'
| The spring passed away, and the sum
mer in all its beautiful bloom and abund
ant frui1fulness came on. The wedding
on the stormy night had almost passed
from the minds OF the minister and hi
wife; albeit, she would break out with
laugh, and ask her husband if he didn'
think it was nearly time to splice anothe
couple. It, ..- ...-. -. .... ,.@ ~.
One day, as the happy little family wer
eating their dinner, and just as the pa
rents were feeling uncommonly proud o
some smart thing little RobbY had said
: there came just such another ringing o
the bell as that heard on the stormy night
swell, there" said Mrs. Watson, ION
would think for all the world that tina
| splice-man had come again
. Before the minister could reach ia
, door it was opened, and, astonishiyA ~ I
, relate, there stood the Identical hero {
! the wedding occasion. -.
"'Arte1roon, parson, and ma'am, hahn
forgot me, have yea Member that job 20
did for me last spring2 Never did an,
thing better in that line, bet your lif
7 Didn't know then how it 'twould tut
out. Citizen married is hinder risky an,
how. But'you won't find happier pa
q this side O Canaan, that's snre. And so
< thought twas time brought along Il
t rest of the fee. Whe1'll you have the: