The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-22
AN EARLY MARRIAGE.


An early marriage is not always con-
sidered advisable; but very much de-
ponds upon what is meant by early. 1t
is by no means Synonymous with party.
Henry says his brother Joseph, is ready |
to be married now, and he wants to be
next week; but he hasn't secured the
girls consent to be married at all, to
say nothing of next week, still he hopes
to secure her assent to his arrangement
before the week is out. If she should
come with him to the parsonage before
the close of another week and be mar
ried, that might not appropriately be
called party marriage, though 1T could
hardly be considered an early one. since
both are well on toward thirty years of
age. There was case, however, seve-
raj years ago, of couples coming to
the parsonage and being joined, OF
which it could very appropriately be
said that it was rather an early marri-
age, notwithstanding the mature age of
the parties. One Fourth of July MORN
ing between and O'Clock the door
bell rang as though some one had given
it vigorous pull and was impatient to
get in. l was awakened from profound
slumber, and was somewhat startled by
SO untimely summons. i was On my
way to the window, when my wife said
she guessed it was some of the street
urchins who had been firing torpedoes,
crackers and pistols ever since midnight
and were probably ringing the door-bell
! lst for mischief. t#H
But another vigorous pull convinced
me that il was no boys play, and /
raised the window and inquired what
was wanted. t|tttf ..t
''Please, sir, couple wish to be mar
ried. Can you come down moment?"
sob, certainlyl'' replied, sin very
few minutes"
He went on to explain that the couple
were in a carriage at the gate and
would come in as soon as l was ready.
He had driven over with them from
Exeter, a distance of nine miles,
and they had planned to be married
here and take the early train for Boston.
ga runaway couple from New Hamp-
shire" suggested my wife, and 1
thought very likely some of the students
had started out for a practical joke. i
did net keep them many minutes in
waiting, but fastened down and I'M
locked the door, quite prepared to meet
a couple of iAdiscreet children tin tor
a lark" / thought of the good advice
! would give them in sending them
back to their home. 1t was therefore
with not little surprise that l met at
the door in the twilight a gentleman and
lady well dressed, apparently accustom-
ed 10 good society, and so far away from
the heyday of youth as to have
done some thinking on their own ac-
count. The gentleman was nearer 80
than 25, and if the lady was nearer rs
than 30 she had still had some time fol
reflection after coming of age. And
when the gentleman presented the re
quislte legal document, the certificate
of their intentions, saw at glance
that it was dated the September before
and was somewhat worn from the loni
keeping. concluded very speedily tina
the good advice suggested by the rattle
untimely bell might be kept for anothe
occasion. The parties were of age
were evidently devoted to each othel
and had been sufficiently long time Ell
gagged to know whether they wished
be married or not. There was no re-
son in their appearance, nor IN the do
ument presented, for asking them
wait any longer. Everything was
their favor but the earliness of Il
hour, and that was in their fave
There was no law in either Massach
sets OF New Hampshire against the
being married in the morning. VIII
was there to do but to rejoice In tn
enterprise, and bid them hearty G
speed as they went out, sure of ca
other, to greet the rising sum- The BIZ
were singing marriage songs, the air
full of the fragrance of flowers, and
nature seemed to have conspired W
the lovers to make their trip delight
1 could not, however, but cherisl
lingering curiosity over the particu
reason for their early start.
1t had very much the appearance
an elopement, and it was with not a
tie satisfaction that afterward gai
the following particulars:
1t was nearly five years after Il
marriage that 1 met the gentleman
one of the beaches, and while stroll
along the sand he told the story.
"You have wondered, no doubt,
said, chow we came to call on 20
early that Fourth-o'-July morning,
I've thought sometimes I'D like to
you, since you were so considerate
let us off without any questions.
[ assured him that it would give
great pleasure to hear from him
whole account, and thought it "
afford an equal satisfaction to my
to know as much of the particula
he was pleased TO give. Her mind
heart have always been hospital
any little interesting details in thu
tory of young lovers, and / was
his story would interest her.
"Wel, it needn't be a very
yarn, - he began. 81 don't suppos
care to have me enter very minute
to particulars"
again assured him that whate
chose to tell would find a ready lis
81 had been acquainted with BE
he began, sever since l was sixtet
then / went to Exeter to enter Z
Academy. 1t was one of the Bne