The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-08-11
BELFAST MAINE, THURSDAY, AUGUST IL, 1881.

the place Or their natural sense of Decor
um. Never in all the public ministrations
of my whole ministry was ! so anxious,
never did | tremble so much as in the few
remaining minutes before the appointed
hour.
At length the doors were thrown open,
and up the aisle marched Mr. Jones and
Miss Pickett. He was the tallest of men,
more than six feet in height, and she so
small that she could barely reach up her
little hand and clasp his arm. He was
evidently painfully conscious of the ter
ribleness of the ordeal through which he
was to pass, and he came up the aisle
with the strides OF a mOuntaineer, which
Miss Pickett could match only by an Oc-
caslonal skip and run. But there she
was, just as our fancy had painted her.
There was the new hat, and the new
dress, everything which had become so
familiar to us all; and, in spite Of all re-
preston, smiles were audible.
Can describe that marriage ceremony? /?
Only the pencil of a EIogarth or Mast, or
the pen OF a Dickens or q Thackeray
could do it Justice. Can | describe as
Miss Pickett knelt for a moment at the
chancel rail in silent prayer, how the
bridegroom, attempting to initiate her
example, and doubtless to follow her in
structi0ns, had fallen OH his knees on the
floor three steps below her, and then no
ticing his mistake, went up those three
steps on his knees to reach her side,
while the church was filled with suppress
ed laughter? Can | describe his diff
Guilty in finding the wedding ring? The
hands that were wont to guide the plough
were now, probably for the first time, in
cased in a heavy pair Of black leather
gloves. How he fumbled to find the ring
in his vest pocket, and was unable to get
hold OF it; how at last he was forced to
the conclusion that at least one glove
must come off; how he grasped it with
the energy Of a blacksmith, and tugged,
but to no purpose; how he placed his
hand between his knees, and pulled again
as usclessly; how at last he gathered all
his powers, and in the attitude Of draw
ing a reluctant cork from bottle, tuggcd
and pulled, till the veins in his neck
and forehead were distended, and the
perspiration rolled down in streams; and
at length, when he conquered, the glove
was a wreck ! No pen can fully describe
all this, photographed on the memories
of all the eye witnesses.
But the service came to its close at last
The benediction was pronounced. Again
theOrgan sent forth its most Joyous notes.
Miss Pickett, no longer now Miss Pickett
went down the aisle, leaning on her stall
wart husband. Yes she went down to
live on his farm, and to find how much
q woman can enjoy herself looking after
the chickens and the cream and the eggs
She went down to a pleasant home, and
to loyal if not brilliant husband. As
week after week, the vegetable wagon
went its rounds, Miss Pickett that was
rode beside her husband Often she
stopped at the rectory to leave a present
for the pastor whose gracious permission
had secured her all this happiness. Yes,
Mr.. Jones was right. The country air
improved her health, and improved her
looks also. Each week she looked roster
and plumper. In word, Miss Pickett
was happy, and at length my cares and
anXieties for her were forever at All end,
and my dreams were untroublcd Harp
er's Magazine for August.