The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-16


he is peculiarly vulnerable, and ii
young lady did not spare him. A
he was the especial charge of all til
mothers in Israel and all the daugI
ters, he did not lack champions
but, alas it was soon discovere
that be was bewitched and many
PRAYER was offered on his behalf.
His presumption was at first a
object of ridicule to the young Il
dy's friends and admirers but tina
something which packed ever
church and school-house when h
preached in them and got up reviy
ais by magic soon began to tell i
this case, and the ridicule rose to Sc
rious opposition. When the crise
came, and Jack gave his opinion
he simply said 'Em. if you mus
marry a preacher. take Thomas
He's a man."
This verdict grew out of the fac
that the despised lover, being a VII
ginian, had learned, in his nativ'
state, to shoot, to ride, to row, t
walk. When his host was pressed
TO get in his hay, and the preache
took off his coat, few men cared f
come in competition with those long
thin arms. He rode any horse; an,
shot squirrels for sick folks when
common marksmen failed, and 81
won the respect of men and BOYS, a
well as the admiration OF womer
and girls.
In due time Miss Merritt packec
her trunks, sent them out of hel
step-father's house went, with hel
gaunt lover. to squire's office; hac
the nuptial knot tied started, witt
her new husband, 10 one of his ap
pointmerts stopped at a waysid'
inn, and had her wedding dinner o
boiled mackerel, potatoes, bread anc
coffee.
The groom's father, in order K
get away from slavery, had sold hi:
Virginia farm, emigrated to Iowa
bought large tract of land, and
was anxious to settle his children
around him. SO 10 the wilds o
Iowa went the gaunt young preach
er, with his gay young bride.
Her dress, which had been n sc.
rious trouble to the Methodists ol
Northern Pennsylvania, was great
cause Of scandal to those of Iowa,
in neighborhocd where a woman's
best head-dress was calico sun-bon-
net. The sisters came and labored
with her. The brethren groaned
when she came into church. They
all prayed for her in class-meeting,
and at all times assumed her uncon-
vertcd state as proven by her white
plush bonnet.
But the great trouble of the new
home was lack Of house-room. The
family, like each one Of those in the
lived in a log cabin,
and even the old Virginia welcome
which met tl.e bride could not Who'll
" compensate for the cramped lodg-
ings. So the groom stopped preach
ing, and took up the trade his Mas
ter had followed before the days of
his ministry I; but, while all hands
were busy rushing up the new house,
fever laid its hand heavily upon the
old, and every bed had an occupant,
thought to be sick unto death. The
young husband was thought nearest
the grave, and then the young wife
found use for all her overlooking Vi
tality and that Pennsylvania train
ing which made her a wonder to her
Virginia friends. On her strong
shoulders the weight of the emer-
yency fell heavily, and was bravely
borne. From bed to bed of the suf-
ferers she passed, and from cook
stove to table, preparing and serving
tood for the visitors, who focked in
such communities to the house of
sickness, like vultures or magpies
around wounded OK, to stare and
wonder and to be fed. OF all her
patients the doctor gave her little
nope but for her husband there
vas none whatever. Speaking in
after days Of that time, she has said:
AS for Thomas, there was nothing
eft of him but a handful of bones
md a tuft of red hair" He sank
nto Inconsistencies, and people
,eased to inquire "How is he?" and
,aid: as he still living?" One day
The felt the world sliding away, the
Jun growing dark, and knew she too
vas coming down with the fever"
When the doctor came, he made
assurance doubly sure, and told her
irankly he feared for the result, she
vas so worn out; but he gave her
Medicine and departed, when she sat
md looked the situation fairly IN
he face.
Her husband could live but few
laws. She would soon be delirious.
There was no vacant bed in that
house, where she might lie down.
She could not become charge on
ler oyer-burdencd mother-in-law.
.hought she would surely die, and
must find place to die in.
OF all the women who had come
o look, there had been one whose
;cant calico dress and sun-bonnet
we're always clean and who did not
bring pipe one who had offered
o assist and would not stay to eat.
Against this woman she had been
warned as one who was ''queer,
md, of course, not respectable but
o her she resolved to go. This wo-
mans husband was teamster and
seldom at home, and she had bat
;wo boys in her family. So the bride
rot down her bridal-bonnet from
he rafter where it hung, wrapped
10 in paper, like a smoked ham,
made small package of under
clothes, kissed her insensible hus-
,and for a final farewell, and started
across the prairie to the cabin, two
niles away, but visible from her
starting-place. Taking a bee line,
he came into swamp, and sank in
{ SO far and SO often that it became
question whether she should find
/ grave Just there, without the aid
If a grave-digger but she climbed
On tussocks, picked her way from
,ne to another. and got across, wet