The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-09-13

married shore huff, isn't l?''
YES, chile, course yer is, ," answered
the parson.
q hain't got fur to do it ag'in,
hev IP"
mo, chile; dat is, not wild John
Joseph, Il" he added, with giggle at his
own wit.
"Well, den, ies' tell yer." said Me-
linda Ann, ''dat bofe times when he'd
ter make dat ar promise bout obeyin
John Joseph, done crossed my left
foot ober my right. He! he! talk ter
dis chile bout obeyin', will yer? I
want gwine ter make no such foolish
promise. so | done crossed my left foot
ober my right, an dat meant: Il does
ODER de left "
"Sho! Melinda Ann" said her father,
trying to look reprovingly at her. but
with broad smile on his face, ''ver
shouldn't hev done dot; but it's done
now. Yer alters was cute I'm, eff yer
was my chile Now yer must stan up
an receive de congratulations of yer
friends
The young couple Strengthened
themselves up, with all the dignity be-
coming the occasion, and, two by two,
the guests filed along and saluted bride
and groom alike with great gusto.
After all had paid their ''respec's, " in
Guiding ode white folks" Par johnson
announced: ''Take partners for re-
freshments! but fust let the young
couple pass down through de middle,
an den we'll fall in line an foller
,k.Sp to de dinin' hall" They did so,
i Ind Par johnson was so excited over
the importance of his self-appointed
position as "Master of Ceremonies"
that he hoped along as if he was on
springs, and barely escaped demolish-
ing the brides train several times on
the route. But what scene the dining
table presented! Mrs. White had spared
no pains to make it attractive, and
had catered both to the eyes and pal
ates of the company. She knew well
the tastes of those for whom she had
ordered the repast, and the subStantials
abounded. Great roast turkeys, cooked
to just the right brown, with their
drumsticks crossed over their breasts
as II in resignation. roast bacon,
broiled chickens, roast ducks and all
kinds of vegetables, including their
favorite hominy and rice. The lighter
foods were provided, too, to suit the
younger people whose advanced ideas
led them to prefer to eat what ''de
white folEs'' ate at their weddings.
These, therefore, partook of salads,
floating island, blanc-mange, cake, cof-
fee and fruit. What feast it was
The bridal pair were able to do full
justice to everything, their extra we'd
ding ceremony having served to in
crease their hunger. Melinda Ann, of
course, was the center of attraction: all
the SWANS were anxious to help her to
something, so her plate was kept well
supplied. She held her little court around
her with all the skill and coquetries of
a society belle, and her witty salles
made the room ring with the outlaws
of her admirers. This filled with envy
some of the more neglected maidens
who sat around the wall, one of whom,
gazing at her empty plate, disdainfully
remarked:
''Dese yer brides pears to be mighty
tractive. De gentlemen had a sight
better let her husband tend her.
The brides cake was masterpiece
of art, and there was positive hush
over the assembly when Melinda Ann
went forward to cut it. How deity
she did plunge the knife in amongst the
little frosted figures! Every person was
given piece to take home, and many
we're the smiles and coy chances as
each young beau shvly asked the
maiden of his heart, ''Who yer s'pose
yer gwine ter dream of when yer sleeps
ober dat weddin' cakeP" After the
last person had received his portion,
Par johnson arranged the line of march
again, and all returned to the parlor,
where ''Uncle Pete" had already es-
tablished himself at one end of the
room with his fiddle. 1t is true the
fiddle was rather the worse for wear
and age, and ''Uncle Pete" was not the
most skillful musician in the world;
still, when he put the fiddle up under his
chin and drew the bow briskly across the
strings, every foot in the room began to
beat the time, every head to bob, and
the whites of every eye glistened and
rolled in Joyous expectation.
''Take pardners fur de Virginny
rec" called out Par johnson, and he
was obeyed with the greatest speed
possible. The long lines reached from
one end of the parlor to the other, and
at the first squeak of the fiddle away
the dancers flew up and down the mid
die. Whoever has not seen the South
ern negroes dance can form but q faint
idea of the scene that followed. Their
whole bodies as well as their feet
seemed made of India-rubber;. they
danced all over, from the top of their
bobbing heads, down through their
swaying bodies, to the bottoms of their
bounding feet. Talk of fancy steps,
They eXcelled anything one could i'm
agine; no two steps were alike, and
while some Of the movements were per
fectly ludicrous, others were the very
embodiment of grace and beauty.
Their striking and gaudy costumes,
and their dusky faces, lighted up by
their white eyeballs and shining teeth,
of course added to the effect. Par
Johnson and Parson Brown, though
perhaps not quite so agile as some of
the younger ones, still went through
the figures with a spirit and dash de-
lightful to see. Jigs followed to Vir-
ginia reel. John Joseph and Melinda
Ann covered themselves with glory by
dancing one together in most perfect
finnn NarinI1c upntbS NrinJ xritb aonb