Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-27
TWO COUPLES; 4 WHITE AND 4
YELLOW.
I. THE WHITE COUPLE.

Early one Sunday morning the mulatto
carriage. driver of Colonel Mcpherson Ber-
rien called to me. l was pastor of
church in II southern city at the time, and the
colonel was one of its leading members. 1t
was easy to see at glance what it was that
my visitor wanted. The fact that it was Sun
day might account for the broadcloth he wore
and the linen, the watchchain, not of the
purest gold across his white vest, and the
gloves. the polished boots, the eXuberant
handkerchief, even for the Sabbatical silk
umbrella, the day and not the weather being
the occasion therefor; not even the sacred
ness of the day could explain, however, the
air of special importance which clothed Mil
ton (for that was his name) beyond all these.
Like all mulatto house servants of rich folk
in those days, he resembled nothing SO much
as a Frenchman masquerading in yellow, but
there was now an added gravity, as of an en-
bassador.
Il took de extreme liberty" he said with
bow, and bearing thereafter which would
have satisfied George the Fourth, ito call,
sab, and to beg to presume upon your time.
De circumstances is desc. l was requested to
ascertain, sab, if it would combine wild your
convenience to be at your residence dis after
noon at three o'clock 2" and, while l was
considering his request he repeated the ques-
ton in terms made still more magniloquent
by his evident anxiety.
81 will be at home, / remarked, after Mil
ton lad received his reply and with profu-
sion of bows, had departed "Yes, will be
at home Poor things l suppose the ru-
mors we have heard must be true. l will
not do it, but it does seem such pity"
Sure enough, at the time appointed, Mil
| ton drove up to our gate, magnificent upon
his masters carriage, and two young people
| got out. Harry and Felicia, as we had feared !!
| Now the parents of these young persons
were, on both sides, opposed to their mar
| riage; as | well knew, violently opposed, and
for excellent reasons. Harry's parents, Colo
| mel Berrien and his wife, were absent on n
visit to n distant city, never dreaming of a
disaster so terrible, in their estimation, as
was this. The youthful pair came up the
walk claborately dressed, so bright and hap
py, more than all, so entirely unconscious
that, having escaped their parents, any obsta-
Gle remained in their path to perfect happi-
ness that it did seem hard thing to do that
| which had to be done but, to me, there was
no alternative.
We made it as easy for them as we could
| A lady of my household took Felicia into one
| room to demonstrate with her, while Harry
followed me into my study. He was hand
| some fellow, who had suddenly shot up dur
ing the last year or two into tall, pale, gen
|
| of rich fathers, pretty much the world ovel
lat least of parents who had failed in duty
toward their children as his had), there was
certain iuidity in poor Harry, genteel Ian
| guor general hmpness, an unaffected ab
seIce. as of the bone and muscle, of sin
Gle purpose in life beyond enjoying himsel
as much as he could, and with whatever hap
pened to come along. As laid my hand up
Oh his shoulder and looked into his honest
h, lpl, IS eyes, l felt that he was like so mucl
very white, but very soft clay, which needed
only the pressure of poverty to have beel
hardened into the noblest and most enduring
marble. But, alas for his pliable nature
H., had his marriage-license ready in hi
hand / would not look at it, He was no
eighteen, as l well knew, and he had got tn
document by swearing he was twcnty-one.
need not reveal the special reasons
urged upon Harry why he should, at least
writ until his father got home. They wer
reasons so excellent that he consented to d
30. lie gave me the license, ut last, quit
willingly. | should have torn it up on tn
spot, but he was such a gentlemanly fello'
that gave it back TO him, telling him that
trusted 10 his honor. Felicia, however, wa
OF age. and had grown up in other circum
stances altogether, and all the effort bein
mad. mt the same time in the other room wa
worse than wasted upon her 1t may be har
at times to persuade lady to marry, but tina
is "A triae to the labor of inducing her at otf
or times not to marry Breaking through a
persuasons as well as doors, the lady hun
ried into my study seized upon the poor boy
marched him without an adieu out OF til
house, down the walk, into the carriage, an
so they drove off to a Rev. Mr.. Brown, VIII
did marry them with hardly question.
OF course the whole affair was the sens,
ton of the day, and comments, pro and col
were many and loud. week after, as
passed by the business place of the father {
The bride, he called me in and thanked N
heartily for my course, and fastened to add
"Harry Berren tells me that he paid Nj
Brown one hundred dollars for marrying hin
There sir" he continued, opening his poeke
book aud putting the bills in my hand, ="
Won will do me the favor TO accept this, yo
: can call il pew-rent, or whatever you please
there is your two hundred dollars for NJ
marrying them"
One is constrained, however, TO compre
e appearanees here into the limits of sob
truth. The money was Confederate (for
was during the war that all this took place
8 and by no means at par. 1t was better tina
: nothing in days when no pastor in the Sta
: had other salary than those the rayel
9 brought 10 him sitting beside the brook Oh
!, ritb. and when l condoled laughingly wit
: | A. Rro,,n next time | met him, upon h