Daily Republican., 1883-07-23
Hifches at the Altar.

Fickleness on the part of both grOom
and brides, has been fruitful source Of
hitches at the altar. There is a story
told of rustic swain, who, when asked
whether he would take his partner to be
his welded wife, replied, with shame
ful indecisiOn, " Yes, I'm willin' but
I'd much rather have her sister, AL
equally remarkable instance, which
must be authentic, is narrated by a
Bathgate mini ster. In this case a hitch
occurred at the outset, through the alb
sence of witnesses, and the bride her.
self surmounted the difficulty by
going for two friends, one Of them be-
ing her cousin, a blooming lass some
what younger than herself.
When, at length, the parties had been
properly arranged, as the minister was
about to proceed with the ceremony,
the bridegroom suddenly said :" Wad
We bide a wee, sir ?' Oh what is it
now ?" asked the exasperated clergy
man! " WELL" replied the vacilating
groom, " was just gaun to say that if
it wad be the same to you, l wad rather
haze that ane'-pointing to the brides
maid. Z" A most extraordinary state
ment to make at this stage Pm afraid
it's too late to talk of such thing now.
Is it ." returned the bridegroom, in a
tone of calm resignation to the newt
able. " Weel, then, sir, ye maun just
gang on.
The gentleman who so inOpportunely
declared his preference for the sister OF
his bride is only one Of many who have
,nn ln Si mil nlil ~ nj ia
all important question. One hasty indi-
vidual, on being asked if he would take
the lady by his side TO be his wife, tes-
tily responded: !" In course | will !;
that's what ! came here for" OG u re-
cent occasion, an eccentric bridegroom,
when interrogateG in the usual fashion
as to the acceptance OF his bride, per
sisted in responding, 10 the confusion
and bewilderment OF I the officiating
clergyman, eyes, for Il fortnight :" a
declaration which was the occasion OF
no little trouble and perpleXity, though
the difficulty was ultimately overcome.
We will conclude with case III
which somewhat serious obstacle to
moved at the eleventh hour by the in
terventiou of "a beneficial flash Of cleri-
cal jealousy. In a western Scottish
town, one evening, there We're so many
marriages that an unfortunate couple,
who had arranged to be married at the
minister's house, were unable to pro-
cure cab to convey them thither till
long past the hour appointed and
when, at last, they stood at the door of
the manse and rang the bell, it was ap-
preaching midnight. A loud and
somewhat indignant voice presently re-
sponded from bedroom window up
stairs, demanding to know who was
there.
The situation was briefly explained ;
but the voice-that of Rev. Mr.. W,
minister of the first charge of the Abbey
Church-proved inexorable. al can't
help it" was the ultimatum received !;
d" you must 90 home and come back to.
morrow" o, Mr.. W, We ken we
Gamma gang hame without bein' mar
ried," struck in female voice But
what would you have Inc do-call up
the whole house because of your bung-
ling" "Could you no laet over the
window, sir ?" i" Nonsense it is i'm
possible" go, ye MIGHT, sir We ken
we attend the Abbey on your day, and
not on MI B-'s." This final stroke
of policy proved irresistible, for between
Mr.. W and Mr.. b; minister Of
the second charge of the same church,
there subsisted Il great deal of profess
sional jealousy. The window was put
down, the gas lighted, the door opened,
and the marriage of the triumphant
diplomatists duly solemnized.