Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-01-19
HOW SIMON PEvERITT GOT MARRIED.

HOW SIMON PEVERITT GOT MARRIED.
Master Westley, clerk and sexton
in the small village of Woodham,
was one winters morning sitting by
his CHEEKY tireside, watching alter
nately the rain fiercely beating
against the latticed window-panes,
and the brisk movements of Lis ac-
tive little daughter, as she moved to
and fro, busy about her household
work. Presently she came in. bring
ing a hat. great and umbrella,
Observing: "You will be wanting
these soon, father. 1t is nearly
eleven o'clock" She had hardly
said this, when a loud knocking was
heard at the outer door, followed by
the abrupt entrance of a little, mid
dle-aged man in a state of great ex-
citement, his face red, his hair
rumpled, his boots splashed with
mud, and his coat dripping with
wet
"Why. Simon, what on earth's the
matter" said the clerk. "You don't
look much like bridegroom"
O1lecS51OOiH' ANO. tuc lulu fudu
exclaimed with bitter emphasis.
Master Westley, you'll have to tell
parson l can't get married today"
"Why, how is thst?" asked the
clerk.
Il can't get Mary up" quoth the
indignant and disappointed lover.
'Ive been rattlin' at her door, and
throwin' stones at the winder, and
shoutin' till I'm hoarso as a rook;
and Pm nearly wet through with the
drippings from the husens the caves
of the house but I can't get she up.
She only just put her head out of
winder for minute, to tell me 'twor
no good for me to stand hocketting
making a great noise there; for
she'd never take the trouble to put
on her best things, and go out in that
powerin' rain jest to marry me-"
"Why. Sim! this is rather bad
beginning for people about to marry
isn't it? Pm afraid the gray mare
will be the best horse in your team
won't she?" said the kindly old clerk,
with merry twinkle in his knowing
brown eyes. However, I'd better
go and tell Mr. Howard, or he will
be putting his surplice on for moth
ing. Shall I say to him that perhaps
the wedding may come off to-mor-
row, if the weather is finer, and
Mary will get up in timer
IF she DON'T" vowed Sim, glaring
vengefully, "She shall never have an
other chance. I'm fairly sick of her
tricks. We've been keeping com
pany this twenty year and more, and
now she don't know her own mind
bit better than a mawther Tyoung
girl in her teens. But won't stand
it no longer. She amt going to
treat me like a dog, or mat to wipe
her feet on. There's widow Biggs
would have me any day, and glad;
and nice, comfortable woman she
is too! The wedding ring shan't lie
long in my pocket for want of
wearer And there, Master West
ley" said poor Sim, almost in tears
over his frustrated plans and disap-
pointed hopes, I'D meant this to
hev been a regular jolly day. I'd
got in barrel of beer. and spare
rib of pork, and we wor going to hev
paraties and frawns [pancakesl, and
mort of good things beside, to make
a regular spree of it; and now, it's
all knocked on the head, and every
body knows I'm made a fool of into
the bargain
Cheer up, Simm said Master
Westley. 1T is aggraviting, I'll
own; but Mary isn't bad sort
though she has rather cragy
lcrusty! temper. She has been very
true to you; and it would be pity
for two such faithful lovers as vou've
been. to part over little tiff at last.
Ibelieve Mary is jealous of the little
widow. You know people did say
once that you were rather soft on
her"
1T was big storyw burst out
Sim. "She tried to hook me; but l
never gave her no encouragement"
Didn't You walk with her from
church last Sunday? l heard You
did. and carried little joey all the
Wav homo. aDI E;.eol L.. IL -. -