The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-12-17
A south Carolina Marriare.

OOOn uAboi tnt tlObt VI but lilSt WIFI
Captain x was appointed q justice Of
the peace in q country place not far
from Raleigh, North Carolina. His
father had been planter in rather
small way, and his son, the captain, had
acquired considerable experience in the
business of managing real estate, draw
ing up deeds, ETC., during the fathers
lifetime, and then in settling the es-
tate after his decease. Further than
this he had no legal knowledge, and,
indeed, his entire stock of "book-
learning" was small and poorly Sc
lected; but any lack in general in
formation was fully made up, for his
uses, by self-assertion. Late one after.
noon, as he was riding home from
Raleigh, he met a young woman and
two men, who hailed him and in
quired if he was Captain X. The
wished to be married at once. The
other had come as q witness. They
had procured the necessary license,
but an irate father was on their path,
and swcre that they should never be
married. 1t was considered on all &C
counts safest to have the ceremony per-
formed without delay, and try pacifica-
ton afterward.
Now the captain had never witnessed
O marriage, and naturally had no very
clear idea OF what was usual in such
cases. He remembered having seen
book about the house, years before,
with a form of marriage in it, but
what the book was and where it was
he could not remember.
"Why," said he, when he told the
story afterward, "I knew the 'Postles'
Greed and Commandments, and of first
1 thought I'd use em to begin on; but
then reckoned, on the whole, they was
too blamed solemn.
He asked the couple to come to his
house, secretly hoping that he could
find that book; but they declined, for
the reason that the matter admitted OF
no delay.
A less assured man would have been
sorely perplexed, but not he. He LOST
no time in removing his hat, and re.
marked, Hats off in the presence Of
the court" All being uncovered, he
said, "Fu swear you in fust off. Hold
up yer right hands,"
"Me,. too ?" asked the friend of the
groom.
"Of course" said the captain, call
witnesses must be sworn. You and
each of you solemnly swear that the
evidence you shall give in this case
shall be the truth, tn ole truth, an
nothin' but the truth, s'elp you God.
You, John Marvin, do solemnly swear
that to the best of your knowledge an
belief you take this yer woman ter have
an ter hold for yerself, yer heirs, ex.
ekyerters, administrators, and assigns,
for you an their use an behoof for.
ever?''
81 do" answered the groom.
"You, Alice Ever, take this yer man
for yer husband, ter hev an ter hold
forever; and You do further swear that
you are lawfully seized in fee simple,
are free from all incumbrance, and hev
good right to sell, bargain, and convey
to the said grantee yerself, yer heirs,
administrators and assigns?"
"I do" said the bride, rather doubt
fully.
"Well, John," said the captain,
"that'n be about dollar n fifty
cents"
care we married ?" asked the other.
"Not by blamed sight We amt"
quoth the captain, with emphasis; "but
the fee comes in here" After some
fumbling it was produced and handed
to the "court," who examined it to
make sure that it was all right, and
then pocketed it, and continued:
" Know all men by these presents, that
l, Captain X, of Raleigh, North Caro-
lima, being in good health and of sound
and disposin' mind, in consideration OF
a dollar 'n' fifty cents to me in hand
paid, the receipt whereof is hereby &C.
knowledged, do and by these presents
have declared you man and wife during
good behavior, and until otherwise
ordered by the court"
The men put on their hats again, the
young couple, after shaking their bene-
factors hand, went ON to meet their
destiny and the irate father, while the
captain rode home richer in experience.
-lHarpers Magazine.