The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-13
A Pike County Wedding.

81 used to marry a good many folks
when was justice of the peace in Bloom
ing Grove" said Uncle Ira Chrissman, tho
other day. "rhey generally wanted to
get spliccd on the Fourth of July or Christ
mas. They'd come in from the woods the
fellow and his girl both riding on a load OF
hoop-pOles or tan-bark, and sometimes
holding themselves ON to three foot log
that yoke of oxen was shaking in from a
bark -pecling. One Fourth of July took
for wedding fees a coonskin, two railroad
ties, pint Of apple jack three dozen hoop
poles. 25 cents in pennies, two quarts of
low bush huckleberrics, and promise to
vote for me when was u candidate. But
that was al unusually good Fourth for
fees. The couples that I'd hitch, taking
the average run Of 'em would most likely
say:
"Well, now, Squire, we'em much
obleeged. When yc come long our way,
Squire, drop in and we'll flop an extry
slapjact'' ,,
with salt pork gravy and molasses 80 those
fees are coming in yet.
Zone day l was sitting in my office in
Moses bar room thinking what I'd best do
l.
when III walked a big, strappng hoop-polc
cutter and bark forager from way back O.
the Knob. lie had his daughter with him.
The girls name was Mag. Mag was about
10, but, stars alive she was blame near
six feet high, and III bet she could lift a
barrel of whisky over seven rail fence.
She was pretty good looking for all that.
"'Busy, squire p asked the old man.
"'NOt particular said.
wall, Squire, | s'posc you know that
Jerry Elwine's got the best groun'-hog dog
they is in the hull Knob kcntry, don't
you?"
81 never heard of Jerry Elwine or his
ground-hog dog said l, partly on
account of the pain III my stomach and a
plagued sight maddcr because Mag had sot
down on Il straw hat of mine that wouldn't
have taken dollar note for.
"'What2 never heerd O that dog,
'Squire2 said Mag. Never hccrcd O. ole
Tobe2 W-a-a-l, eli that don't take the grease
oif'n my grid1le'
"'Wall, anyhow, whether yc ever hccr-
cd of him or not, the old man put in, Hle's
back O the Knob, an Jerry owns him.
An the trouble is, Squire, Jerry's so cuss.
cd 'fcered of his dog that lie won't let any
one hunt groun'-hogs with him but hisself,
an he's talkin' o srllin' him over into M'roe
county,
"'Ef Jerry Elwne sells that air dog
said Mag, T'll rattle the teeth out'n him
don't care cf we be agoin' to git splicedl'
81 began to think that the old man and
his girl had come in to get an order of court
on Jerry Elwine to appear and show cause
person who wanted him, and why per-
oh IpI ho
bidding him to sell the dog over in Monroe
county. But l was wrong.
The fact O. the matter is, squire
continued the father, that dogs too gol-
darncd vallyble to be wasted. He kin
keep any family that amt passcl O. glut-
tons in groun' '.hogs from September to the
time they hole up Some folks think groun'-
hogs is too rank to act well, and l hcered
Joe Atkinson say onct that he'd as lief cat
taller dip as the best part of groun'- hog.
But they amt nothin' that goes to the spot
with our family US hunk O. that varmint.
Is they Mag?'
dad, yer shoutin'l' replied Mag.
wall, as l was sayin', Squire, that
dog is 100 vallya5lc to be in the onsartain
sittywation he is now. That dog is got to
be connected with our family, an we've
jest come in to sec when you kin come
out our way, Squire, an make the connec-
tion.'
"You're going to buy the dog, ch and
want me to draw up the decd q asked,
madder than a hornet at all the palayer
about dogs and ground-nogs.
"'N-a-a-a-w II said Mag, laughing about
like horse might. yer way off, Squire.
Yer see, Jcrry's been a workin for us for
good while, an been tryin' to shine
round nc fur morc'n six months, but he
amt much Of fighter, an he amt much
of shooter. though he amt no slouch at
rippin the bark off n hcmlock, an mowin'
boop-polcs. But when J heard he were
goin' TO sell Tobe weakened. That dog
fastcns onto too many groun'- hogs to live
away from our plantation, says. So Jer-
ry an me took to settin' up nights an the
consckcnsc is that Jerry an me is goin' to
jnc, an the dog stays IN the family. What
we want o. you is, squire, TO come out
and give us the hitch the first day you kin,
an the sooner the better, fur they's fell
Ter from Ponoco oifcrn' fur Tobe most
enough to buy farm with, an Jerry may
take it in his ornary head to sell hlm. Come
any day, Squire. Wc'm all ready
6 That's about the hcft of it, Squire, ,
said Mag's father. Couldn't yc stand a
lcctlc Burbin on lt2"
'"Thcy both put Il mans drink of Bour-
bon inside of themselves. 1 told 'cm I'd
be out in the course of two Or three days.
In the latter part of the week took the
blackboard and drove out. 1t was fifteen
miles, over the cusscdcst road you ever
saw. was over Six hours on the way. I
found the house. 1t was in q clearing of
about three acres, divided up into turnip