The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-08-30
COUSIN TOMS WEDDING.

COUSlAH IOMSS WEDDlNUs
It was to be in the church. with mu-
sic and flowers, and my brother Claude
and l were to walk up the middle aisle
and lead the procession.
"Now you must both put on your best
behavior, said mother, after we had wor-
ried ourselves into our new clothes on
the all-important night; then she kissed
us Just as if we'd been going to bed, and
sent us off to the church an hour before
the time.
We found the sexton just opening the
doors, and he let us go round with him
while he lighted up, and then l pro-
posed that we should stand outside and
watch the people come.
Il wonder if Cousin Tom feels nerv-
Gus, said Claude, as we walked down
thesteps under the awning. 'sIshouldn't t
think he would, though, for you know
doctors But l say, Bert what's the
matter down the street there? See all
that crowd? Let's run and find out.n
"Come on" cried; s'Ill beat you
there, and forgetting all about our good
clothes and ebest behavior,r we both
started off down the block. asy
somethingn' exclaimed, as won the
race and found a lot of people bending
over the form of man lying on the
grass in front of the Baptist Church.
We both stood still for a minute, and
was trying to listen to what gentle-
man next to me was telling a policeman,
when Claude pulled me by the sleeve
and whispered that it might be the very
case Cousin Tom, who had just gradu-
ated at the Medical School, was waiting
for. VI M
Lets tell him all about itE'I cried.
"Quick, before they get somebody else;''
and then we both tore off to his lodg-
ings, around the corner, and pulled the
bell as if the house was afire.
ltell you- the girl came to the door
in a hurry, and without waiting for her
to announce us we bolted upstairs to
Cousin Toms room, and rushed in to
find him just putting on his white satin
neck-tie.
"Oh, do come quiclIr we both fairly
shouted ''Such a--',sf ~ ifsF
why, boys, what's the matterP'' he
exclaimed, making Inuddle of his era
vat, HAS Alice tainted, or. the dress
maker forgotten to send her dress home,
or whatnf asa W
mo, no. cried Claude, 'sThere's a
man hurt, and an awful crowd, and-''
Quick, how far from herep'' inter-
rupted Cousin Tom, leaving the two
ends. OF his tie hanging, and snatching
his pea.iaeket. 81 can spare just
twenty minutes.n
why, it's only around the corner. in
front of the Baptist Church, /
replied, dancing around the room in
raced off. -
~ Where is he, boysp', cried Cousin
1om, and Claude pointed inside the
railing that ran in front Of the church.
ana against which, strange to say, no.
body was leaning. II
lhen, not waiting to hunt up the
gate our cousin, who was great strap
ping fellow, shouldered his way throu1h
lhe crowd, and without paving anv
attention to the efforts some Of che
people made to hold him back, he
placed his hands on the top railof the
ience TO vault over.
h.lt Inc next instant he gavea spring
oacAward instead of forward, and fell
against Claude, who; Of course fell
against me, and we all three went
uown one after another like row Of
pliSks, While the. people set up such a
~ tnat you might have thought they
nau all turned into wild Indians on the
ma-path. Being boys, and quite used
~ hsru knocks, neither Claude nor L
mas hurt and we sprang up asplively
a. ever when Cousin Tom was lifted of
ol Us. But there was not much spring
soogt nm, and we were awfully fright
ere enea when we found that he couldn't
Then they explained the whole thing
~ Us, which was something like this:
uIere was an electric light in front of
me store next the church, and in ss6soe
may me stutf-the electric fluid or what
ever u had got off the track. or the
v.l wlres, and run into the fence. and SO
SInoever touched it got a most tremen-
sous shock,s That was what was the
elS13rr euat.sr With the man inside, and the
srowd had tried to warn Cousin Tom.
nus ne was too excited, about petting an
tuseresting case to listen.
,or IN, # he's killed, it's all our fault
lyt tselnng him about itl'' moaned
h.,s -Anu ne was going to be married in
@aa5 IA, an nour," / added, despairinQlE
ra;.s nu MISS Lord'l be in the church
ro,s. ~ng Tor him, and when he don't
soJ e Sne may have a fit or something,
W. Ssaude. how can we tell herf'