Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-01-15
A PIONEER WEDDING.
Married By a Blushing Squire
Who Swears Them On a Euehre
napE

A returned party of deer hunters
of this city. who hud been in the
upper peninsula, relate the following
account of a characteristic wedding
among the settlers, of which they
were eyewitness, after a "loggiDg
bee" The young man had taken up
homestead "amid the death-like
solitude" had cleared off small
patch, and with the assistance of his
scattered neighbors, some of whom
had come from a distance of eight
and ten miles, had erected log
cabin, and while these same neigh
bors were there, having general
good time and a "hOusewarming,"
he was to take to himself in his new
home bride. They came in the
heavy lumber-wagon, driven by
oxen, from the nearest station, twenty
five miles distant-a sort of prelimi-
nary bridal tour-to their new home,
where the sturdy yeomen and their
wives had collected from far and
near to witness the unusual sight of
the first wedding in that county. a
minister 10 tie the connubial knot
was not to be found in that unchris-
TANNED region, and the person Sc
lected to perform the ceremony was
the Justice of the Peace, very
Young man-who had not been Sc
lected to fill that judicial position
with regard to his knowledge or
qualifications for the office but "be-
cause he had such a sedate and
solemn way" He was brought there
without knowing for what purpose,
until after bis arrival, and when told
be demonstrated. Now, boys, l
can't do it; I don't know how; l
never married couple in my life.'
but his objections were silenced when
told that he was the only legally
authorized person around there; that
a minister was an unheard of luxury,
and could not be had for love or
money. One or two of the married
men present got the young justice
off into a corner of the room, and
gave him some instructions in regard
to the ceremony from their own past
experience. Then the ceremony be-
gan.
"Now, then said his Honor,
''stand up"
They stood up, and the company
gathered closely around, like a
"ring" at prize fight of pugilists,
with eyes open and gaping mouth,
determined not to lose any of the
''show."
Then, turning to his elder in
formant, the bewildered youth asked,
sotto voce, "What nexti After re-
ceiving satisfactory information, he
again addressed himself to the happy
couple:
"Jine hands-your right hands"
Again he was at loss, but. doubt
less resolved to brave it through, he
extemporized his service:
81 s'pose you've greed to git
married2"
"Y-a-as," in chorus.
The visitors getting interested,
crowded nearer; the bridegroom,
rather frustrated, lost his hold, and
an awkward silence followed. Then
the justice:
'If any mans got any reason why
they can't git married, let him mind
his own business. Now, John, hold
up your right hand-hold on; git
Bible to swear on"
A Bible could not be found, and a
pack of euchre cards were finally
selected to answer. With their left
hand on these, and their right up
lifted, he swore them in.
do you solemnly swear to stand
by each other through thick and
thin T.
Not exactly understanding the ma
ture of a "solemn swear" the bride
blushingly answered, 81 will, by
jingo" while the groom, not so deli
cate in his vernacular, shouted in
stentorian tones, "You bet | will,
by Cdr
"Then," said the justice, in his
most solemn tones, "by the Great
Jehovah and the ContinentalC Congress,
| say you're married !''-Battle Creek
(Mich.) Cor.