The daily gazette., 1879-02-22
TIE WEDDING FEE.

4
of wind and dashes OF rain now and thef
beat against the house, as If bound to seek
shelter within.
Little Bobby was sourd asleep in his
crib, and the minis or and his wife were
spending the evening together in the coy
lsittng-room.
I The hour for retiring had come, and
while Mr.. Watson was making the fire
safe for the night, ard Mrs. " atson was
bus ling about pick NJ up and adjusi ing
the number less concerns which nobody
| but careful housewife can see or think
of. there came a violent ring of the bell
| Mercy ~ exclaimed Mrs. Watson
"sornebody must be dying or dead
| What dreadful night fOr you 10 90 ont
| in"
| Mr.. Watson opened the door and peer
ed into the darkness. Not "A human beir G
could he see or hear. a few seconds
passed when a loud, grutl voice was heard
saying:
"Can you splice us tonight ?'
| For all instant HI minister WAS confus-
ed, not being accustomed to the Use Of
that nautical term in relation to his pro
tesson. 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 vuic. above the storm, lie replied:
"If you mean to ask me, sir, 10 marry
you, shall be most happy to perform the
ceremony. Is the lady with ,on?.
ala. ha that is a good one. Sary
Ann, you mean? Don't suppose I'd
come 10 get knot tied without her, do
you? No. sir, she is right here III the
cart"
MIR, Watson need not have stepped
| back to inform his wifi, of the great event
which was to take place, for she overheard
heir conversation, and was using hel
| utmost endeavor TO expel the laugh from
her countenance before the happy couple
appeared.
| 1t must be confessed that the sight oi
the couple was not conducive to gravity
They had passed good while since The
| bloom of youth, and made no specia
efforts to conceal the fact. Both had
evidently come direct from their work
which, indeed, the gentleman proceeded
to intimate.
"The fact is, parson, It's rather bad
night outside and says to Sary, 'Whal
is the use, let's not fix up bit, but just
90 as we are. The knoL'll hold just AZ
well as if we had on our bib and tucker.
And besides, parson, We want totake TIE
old folks by surprise, and they'd SIS
pect something if we'd gone to work and
put on all the riggin's."
Mrs. Wa son was glad Of this opportu
nily to smile, and she did it. Wha
would She not have given for a gooi
hearty laugh The brief ceremony wa.
concluded, and Mr.. and Mrs. Watson ex.
tended their pgratulations.
THAR broke in the newly marree
man. sis the ticket ; gues you'll lind il
.. X. Now, Saral, cts be goin'. a
plagued tough ride is before us. Good.
bye. parson. t,ood-bye. ma'am. Muci
obliged for the Job. Hop; to do as muci
for YOU sometime"
| The cart rattlei away, and Mrs. Wal.
son, into whose hand, her husband de
livercd the certificate, made haste to
open j., thinking that, atier all, il wa
not best to Judge people by the outside
and he strange man migut have dom
something by the way of fee. Tier.
il was a bin Yes, and upon il Wa
the magnificent figure Of one dollar
"Wcll. declare :" shouted Mrs. Wal
son, isn't this too mean for anything
shame on that man, ne doesn', d sery
to he married
"Now, my dear" said the minister
you had at least dollars wor h Of Il
Joyment out Of The occa>ion.'
Next day liltle Bob, shoes wer
bought with the wedding fee, 'he mini,
ter's clothes were brushed and eleauc
z for the hundredth time, and the goo
lady. by dint of extraordinary manag,
mcnt, made the old dress answer an eA
Ct llent purpose.
The spring passed away, and the sun
m-r IN all its beautiful bloom and abui
cant fruitfHlness came on. The we,
dlng on the stormy night had almo
a passed from the minds of the minisr.
J. and his wife; albeit, now AMI then Il
would bi eak out with laugh, and AZ
: her hu> >hand if he didn't think 1t ";
'' nearly time for him u splice anoih'
. couple. One day, a. the happy lit
family were eating their dinner, ana ju
AS he parents were feeling uncommonI
proud OF some smart thing httle Bobl
had said, there came Just another sue
: ringing of the bell ius that heard on I'll
stormy hlght
Gwen there" said Mrs Watson, "or
would think for all the world that II
splice had come again
Il fo the minister could reach til
door iU was opened, and astOnl hing
re late, there stood the Lero OF the We,
ding OCCASION.
"Arterno IN, parson, and ma am; lain
forgot me, have ye? Never did an,
thing better in that line, bet your hf,
Didnt know then how II would turn on
Gett,us married is kinder rlsy anyhow
h But you won find happier pair tn
b side of Canaan, that's sure. And SO
b brought along the rest of the fe'
b Wher,'l you have these things, pa
b son?
b The minister went 10 the door, an
? there WAS the cart literally loaded wit
, fruits and vegetables of every descriI
i ton! Such store was never befoi
b brought irto that house.
!. ooh, don't trouble yourself thanlun
for this" said the man. "Nothng but
J.. fair trade, you know. But if you mn,
thank somebody, thank Sary Ann. I'll
garden sass is from her"
She kinder thought 'twould relish thi
hot weather. Very hot and dry, parsoi
h this season. Been Spcctlng the crol
q wouldn't mount to nothing, but they
grttin' on first rate. The Lord generali
brings things bout right. notice. Don
90 much on churches, aud plagney MI
ON some of he members, hut You uoll
catch me going bnck on the Lord W.
- telling Sary only last week thai we ihu
60 over and hearN some pleaSant Sul
g dav. SpoSe Won give 'rm the III al Blh
III. W a