Smyrna times., 1878-10-30
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
wind and daShes Of rain 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 spending
the evening together in the cosy sitting
room.
The hour for retiring had come, and
while Mr.. Watson was making the fire safe
for the night, and Mrs. Watson was bustling
about, picking up and adjusting the mum,
berless concerns which nobody but care
full housewife can ever see or think Of,
there came violent ring Of the bell.
Mercy. exclaimed Mrs. Watson,
somebody must be dying or dead. What
a dreadful night for you to 60 out in -
Mr.. Watson opened the door and peered
into the darkness. Not human being
could he see or hear. \ few seconds pas.
sed. when loud, gruff voice was heard,
asking:
Can you splice US tonight? q
For an instant the minister was confused,
nautical term in relation to the duties of
his profession. \ 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:
/ If YOU mean to ask me, sir, to marry
you, l shall be most happy to perform the
/ ceremony. Is the lady with you?"
"Ha, ha!' that's good one! Sara Ann,
! you mean? Don't suppose Id 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 cxpel the laugh from her
countenance before the happy pair ap-
peared.
1t must be confessed that the sight OF
the couple was not conductive to gravity
They had passed good while since the
bloom Of youth, and made no special
efforts to conceal the fact Both had
evidently come directly from their work
which, indeed, the gentleman proceeded tc
intimate.
Fact is, parson, It's rather a bad night
outside; and | says to Sary, What's the use
let's not fix up bit, but 90 Jest as we are
The knotll hold just as well as if we hac
on our best bib and tucker And besides
parson, we want to take the old folks by
surprise, and they'd be sure to 'spect some
, thing if we'd gone to work and put on al
the riggn's.' Mrs. Watson was glad 0
this little opportunity to smile, anC
promptly improved it. What would sh
not have given for the privilege of a good
hearty laugh
The brief ceremony concluded, Mr. ant
, Mrs. Watson extended their congratula
, tions.
; Thar broke in the newly married man
r sis the ticket; guess you'll find it Q. K
, Now, Sary, let's be goin. Plaguey toug
f ride before us. Goodbye, parson. Good
bye, ma'am. Much obliged for the jot
e Hope to do as much for you sometime"
' The cart ratified away, and Mrs. Wa
e son, into whose hands her husband ha
| delivered the certificate, made haste t
e open it, thinking that, after ALL it WASH
). best to judge people by the outside, an
/. that the strange man might have don
g something by way of fee. There it was
1 a bill! Yes, upon it the magnificent figur
e of one dollar
f "Well, do declare" shouted Mrs. Wa
Y son, isn't this too mean for anything
# Shame on that man; he don't deserve
+ be married"
d Now, my dear" said the minister, "yo
e should not be too hard, for | think yo
# had at least dollars worth of enjoymer
.. out of the occasion"
h "Yes, sir and | noticed somebody VII
IS seemed to keep from laughter"
n Next day little Robby shoes were bougl
d with the wedding fee, the ministers cloth
.e were brushed and cleaned for the hundrelt
D. time, and the good lady, by dint extraord
1t nary management made the old dress a
le swer an excellent purpose.
it The spring passed away, and the summ
K. in all its beautiful bloom and abundal
tv fruitfulness came on. The wedding on IL
III stormy night had almost passed from Il
w minds of the minister and his wife; albe
r. now and then she would break out with
il laugh, and ask her husband if he didr
40 think it was nearly time for him to spill
another couple. One day, as the hapl
little family were eating their dinner, al
no just as the parents were feeling uncol
:? monty proud of some smart thing lit
~, Rohby had said, there came just su
y, another ringing of the bell as that heard
~ the stormy night.
~ "Well there" said Mrs. Watson, 80
y, would think for all the world that t
y splice man had come again."
IL Before the minister could reach I
ho o door it was opened, and astonishing to
~ ~ late, there stood the identical hero of t
=, wedding occasion.
-, " Afternoon, parson, ma'am; hain't f
~ got me, have ye? Member that job you {
for me last spring? Never did anythi
as better in that line, bet your life. Did
fk' know then how it would turn out Getti
ale married is kinder risky, anyhow. But y
out won't find a happier pair this side
Canaan, that's sure. And so | thoug
eT twas bout time brought along the rest
gh the fee. Where'll you have these thin
parson p
The minister went to the door, and tn
Twas the "cart' literally loaded with fir