The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
A North Carolina Marriage.

Soon after the close of the late war
Captain X was appointed a justice of
the peace in a country place not far
from Raleigh, North Carolina.
His father had been a planter in a
rather small way, and his son the cap
| tain had acquired considerable expert
ence in the business of managing real
estate, drawing up deeds, etc., during
| his fathers lifetime, and then in settling
the estate after his decease. Further
| than this he had no legal knowledge.
and, indeed, his entire stock of ''bOOk-
learning was small and poorly select
ed, but any lack in general information
was fully made up, for his use, by self
assertion. Late one afternoon, as he
was riding home from Raleigh, he met
a young woman and two men, who
hailed him and inquired if he was Cap
tain x. The young woman and one of
the young men wished to be married at
once. The other had come as a wit
ness. They had procured the necessary
license, but an irate father was on their
path, and swore that they should never
be married. 1t was considered on all
accounts safest to have the ceremony
performed without delay, and try paci-
ficatiOn afterward.
Now the captain had never witnessed
a marriage, and naturally had no very
clear idea of what was usual in such
cases. He remembered having seen a
book about the house years before with
a form for 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, Il knew the 'Postles'
Creed and Commandments, and at first
1 thought I'd use 'em to begin on, but
l rekOned on the whole, they were too
burned solemn.
He asked the couple to come to his
house, secretly hoping that he could
find the book; but they declined, for 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, ''rll swear you in fust Off Hold
up yer right hands,"
'.Me too?" asked the friend of the
groom.
s'Of course" said the captain, s'all
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 tel
hold for yerself, her heirs, eXekyerters,
administrators, and assigns, for your
am their use an behoof forever?'
81 do" answered the groom.
s'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 inclmbrance, and hev
good right to sell, bargain, and convey
to the said grantee yerself. yer heirs,
administrators, and assigns?''
81 do" said the bride, rather doubt
fully.
;Wen, John. said the captain,
s.that'll be about 4 dollar m fifty
cents"
care we married." asked the other.
..Not by burned sight ye ain't,''
qsoth 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 thai it was Ill right, and
then pocketed it, and continued: know
all men by these presents, that /, Cap
n,in X, of Raleigh, North Carolina,
bein" in good health and of sound and
disposin' mind, in consideration of Il
dollar N fifty cents to me in hand paid,
the receipt of which is hereby acknowl-
edged, do and by these presents have
declared you man anG 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.
- Huape,'s Jfdgaztne.