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

The sun was shining in the clear,
beautiful way in which it knows how
to shine in the South, the flowers were
| filling the air with unusual fragrance,
and the little birds were vieing with
each other in caroling forth their happi-
est songs, on the eventful morning
when, as Parson Brown had announced
from the pulpit the Sunday before,
Melinda Ann Johnson and John Joseph
Rogers were to be ''j'ined in de holy
bonds oh wedlock." The affair had
been the chief excitement for weeks in
the select clique to which the contract
inc parties belonged, and very select
! clique IT was, for, as John Joseph was
wont to proudly eXclaim: ewes no
common niggers, we is" The we'd
ding was to take place in the town
house of their mistress, Mrs. White, in
whose family they had been born as
slaves, and with whom they had re-
manned after they had been declared
free, saying: ''Whar should we
90? Dis yer's our home Melinda
Ann was Mrs. Whites own maid, and
John Joseph was the butler, and both
had been especial proteges of hers from
their babyhoOd. Therefore, when she
found they wanted to marry each other
she said the wedding should take place
in her house, they might invite all their
| friends and she would furnish the re-
| freshments. AT last. after what had
seemed long waiting, the important dav
had arrived, and all nature appeared
to rejoice with the happy couple and
their friends. The ceremony was to
take place at twelve o'clock in order to
give Melinda Ann father time to come
in from the plantation, ten miles away.
He was to drive in, and after the we'd
ding the bride and groom were going to
drive back to the plantation with him
for their wedding trip, and spend a
week OF the honeymoon there before
resumin% their places at Mrs Whites
town house. All the morning q scene
of confusion reigned. The servants
were hurrying about bringing in flow
ers, and under Mrs. Whites directions
twining sprays of the beautiful South
ern jessalnine about the pictures,
making banks of roses in the corners.
and in the bay window where the couple
were to stand there was a wooden
arch which they made into a bower of
beauty and sweetness. About eleven
O'Clock all the preparations were COM
pleted, and Mrs. White and her friends
retired into the back parlor, leaving the
large room for the 'riStocratc colored
people, " Whovery soon began to arrive.
Up to the appointed hour for the we'd
ding they kept coming, until the room
was well filled. Parson Brown made
his appearance, and took his station
back of the arch. His Sunday suit of
black had been brushed until it wore
an extra gloss for the occasion, and the
parson himself was respondent with
two pairs of spectacIeS on his rather
fiat nose. Twelve o'clock struck. A
rustic of expectancy was heard on all
sides; still the bride did not come.
Quarter past twelve, and at a Slight
sound in the hall the guests rushed to
the door with cries of Here dey are
Here dey aren They were indeed, and
were about half way down the stairs
when Melinda Ann, catching sight of
the sea of eager faces about the door,
lodged quickly behind John Joseph,
and called OUT
''Clar out, now! yer can't see de
bride till | marches in in de percession.
Yer jist got ter gwine back in de parlor
and wait till comes. Yer niggers am
so 'quisitiye," and she suppressed a
pleased little chuckle of gratiiied pride.
''CPar out, now, l say, an we'll march
in"
The crowd did '.cl'ar," and iostled
each other to get good places in the
parlor. John Joseph gave his arm to
Melinda Ann, and with stately strut
they marched through the opening
which the crowd made for them, while
Melinda AIMS brother walked ahead,
playing on a banjo "The Campbells
Are Coming" O, it was an impress
i've scene! Melinda Ann wore long
white muslin dress, cut low neck and
short sleeves; a wide red sash, string
Of yellow beads around her neck, and
on her head red and yellow turban,
from underneath which straved out a
few kinky brads, and over the turban
and rebellious locks was draped her
bridal veil. a hum of admiration was
heard on all sides; never had they seen
a more lovely bride. The groom came
in for his share of admiration, for he
was arrayed in Il white nankeen suit,
yellow vest, and a full-blown red rose
in his button-hole. The handsome
couple took their place under the arch,
and Parson Brown, after several pre-
liminary ''ahem-," began proceed
ings by reading, or pretending to read,
appropriate passages Of Scripture from
the large Bible which he held in his
shaking hands. After the reading. or
recital, he closed the book. and, peer
ing wisely at the young couple over the
top of his two pair of glasses, said
"Chilun, dis am most serus oc-
cashun. Yer two hearts is about terbe
fined in wedlock. Does yer realize de
'sponsibility?'
II reckon we does said John
Joseph, while Melinda Ann nodded.
81 Sc glad yer does, continued the
parson, cease if yer does yer mus live
up ter de sponsibility. Known it am
one thing, an livin' up ter it am anud-
der. Gittin' married am a right serus
matter. Yer dun got ter b'arwid each
udders fault de rest ob yer lives.
hope yer both hes thoughtoberita heap,