Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-11-17
a Wyoming Wedding.

Camping near the town, we secured
our stock and then went in. Entering
the leading store / introduced myself
to Mr.. Stiles, one of the proprietors and
the postmaster.
"It is now half-past two, and at
three there's to be a wedding down the
street at Jonas BurtOn's. Old Jonas is
rough old coon that we elected about
a month ago, and, as this will be his
first attempt at marriage, / think We
will see some fun. Come and go down
with me-"
We went to the old 'Squire's cabin.
We found him poring over a large
volume of the statutes of Wyoming,
sweating like a horse and looking
terribly anxious. After greeting us he
said:
"Stiles, durn the galoots that got up
these over night. I've run through
the blamed book a half dozen times,
an can't find dod blasted word about
metermony or how the hitchin' process
is proceeded with, I've just got to put
the clamps on this couple, hit or miss,
an eff don't yoke 'em up legal L can't
help it."
"Oh!" Said Stiles, "just do the best
you can. Any kind of ceremony will
do in this country, for the peOple'll
never question the legality of the
thing. I'll post you as well as can"
Stiles then explained to him about
how he should proceed, and the old
man finally thought he could worry
through in tolerable shape. Ere long
the couple appeared, followed by a
crowd of the citizens of the camp.
The candidates stood up before the
Squire, who began.
Fellow citizens, this var man an
this var woman have appeared before
the court to be hitched in the legal
bands of wedlock. If any galoot in
the mob knows of anything that mOut
block the game eff took to a higher
court, let him now toot his bazoo or
keep his jaw to himself now and for
evermOre. All in favor of me per-
ceedin' as authorized by the law, say
IL"
Everybody said a."
Contrary, no."
Nobody said "no."
"The motions carried unanimously.
an the court rules that there haint
nuthin' to prevent the tryin' of the
case. Grip yer fms"
The candidates joined hands. "Amos
Peabody, do you solemnly swa'ar thet
yeu freeze to Mandy furever an ever ?
That yell love 'er, an pervide fur 'er,
an treat 'er squar an white, accordin'
to the rules an regulations sot down
to govern sich cases in the laws of the
United States, so help yer God?"
"Yaas, sir; do, sir"
THAT fixes your end o the bargain.
Mandy Thomas, do you solemnlS
swa'ar that yell hang on to Amos for
all comm time, that you'll nuss him in
sickness, an be squar' to him in we'll
ness, that yell always be to him a good
true, honest, up-an' up wife under the
penalties prescribed by the laws for
the punishment of sich offenses; you
swa'ar to this, so help yer God?"
Il swa'ar 1 will"
"Then by the power in me vested as
justice of the peace, in an fur this
precieRt, l pronounce you, Amos Pea
body, husband an you, Mandy Thomas,
wife, and legalize We to remain as sich
now and furevermore, an yell stand
committed till the fees and costs in the
case be paid in full, an may God have
mercy on your souls and bless this
union with his heftiest blessings"
The fees and costs were adjusted,
and, after receiving the congratulations
I of the assembly. the newly made hus-
band and wife departed for treir cabin
up the creek.