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

hindthought. Yer kin git married
site easier dan yer kin git out of de
scrape. hev no wish ter discourage
yer, only | hev been through it three
times myself, an | knows de 'sponsi-
bility. Marriage am a great institoo-
shun. L hev respec' fur it, and L Sc
glad ter perform de ceremony fur yer
two, whom Use known sence yer was
babies. Yer kin now give yer right
hands" John Joseph and Melinda
Ann, who had become somewhat nerv-
Gus during this little exhortation of
Parson Brown on their "'sponsibili-
ties" had some difficulty in joining the
proper hands, but finally succeeded,
and awaited what was to follow with
anxious faces.
"John Joseph" began Parson Brown,
''does yer promise to take dis Melinda
Ann, whom yer holds by the right
hand, ter be yer welded wife, an ter
Tub, honor and cherish her as long as
yer life shall last?'
81 does" responded John Joseph.
Melinda Ann" continued the
parson, "does yer promise ter take
dis John Joseph, whom her holds
by de right hand, to be yer we'd
ded husband, an to lub, honor
an obey him as long as yer life shall
last?"
Il dunno" answered Melinda Ann
81 Sc not gwine ter promise ter obey
John Joseph. Yer didn'tput dat in his
speech. "
"Well, 1 declar' - exclaimed the as
tonished parson, II reckon yer'll h6s
ter obey, whether yer makes de promise
or not" Eyes, yer WILL" continued
he, noticing her defiant pout and toss
of the head; ''yer'll find out. Yer bin
gittin' some new-fangled notions from
de white folks into yer skull, butts no
use, yer'll hey ter obey, shore huff, an
yer's got ter make de promise fore I'll
finish de ceremony. Does yer want ter
git married."
"'Course I does, !" said the downcast
bride.
den eff yer does, I'll say dat part
ODER, an yer must makede promise. "
So he began, in an eXtra solemn tone:
Melinda Ann, does ger promise ter
take dis John Joseph" ETC., and at the
close Melinda Ann dutifully answered.:
81 does"
Then concluded the parson, 81
hereby pronounces yer man an wife.
John Joseph, salute de bride"
John Joseph did so, and the earnest
smack resounded through the room, to
the evident delight of all the guests, and
was still echoing when the clatter
of wheels was heard outside, and soon
new guest, in the form of an
old colored man. entered the room in a
great hurry. Melinda Ann gazed at
him in speechless amazement, while
John Joseph exclaimed, cellar ter
goodness eff it amt yer par! 1 s'posed
he was here!' ...
"Why, par" said Melinda Ann at
last, eve s'posed yer was here, an
we've done got married"
Yer foolin'," said the old man; eyer
amt married, shore 'nutf?"
"Yes, we is" they both answered.
"Den yer iist got ter hev it done ober
again" declared Par johnson, ''fur
Use gwine ter see yer git married. Use
done driven ten miles ter see yer git
married, an Use bound ter do it. Par
son Brown yer kin gist perform de GER
emony ODER again. De idea of dat gal
gittin' married widout KNOWN eff was
here. Use boun' ter see her git mar
ried anyway. Begin at de beginning
an don't yer leave nothin' out l
wants ter hear de whole ceremony
Now, den, Melinda Ann an John Jo-
seph yer jist 90 out an march in,
do yhlN1A
formance
This was too much for the feelings
of Melinda Ann, who thoughtit was bad
enough to have to 90 through the ordeal
once, and she began to cry and declare
she wouldn't do it.
Eyer got ter do it, l tells yer," ex-
claimed the indignant father, ''yer's de
only darter Is cot, eff yer is an ondoot-
iful creetur, and Is boun' ter see yer
git married"
" Melinda Ann continued to whimper.
John Joseph tried to console her, and
Mrs. White emerged from her position
in the back parlor to see what oil she
could pour on the troubled waters.
"COme, Melinda Ann" she said, sit
won't be much to go through it again;
it will be easier than before, because
You know what is coming, and you
ought TO do it to please your father"
"Besides," she added, in low tone,
IF you cry and get your eyes red you
won't be pretty bride"
This last suggestion had immediate
effect, and smiles took the place of
tears as quickly as sunshine follows
an April shower. After little more
coaXing by Mrs. White, John Joseph,
Parson Brown, her father and various
other relatives and friends, the reluc-
tant bride yielded, and, in less time
than it takes to tell it, the principal
parties in the affair had vanished from
the room. The delighted father chose
a good position, and when once more
the couple marched in to the banjo
notes of The Campbells are Coming"
his Joy knew no bounds, and he
rubbed his hands together and displayed
all his worries in the pride of satisfied
ambition. No matter if the brides
eyes were somewhat red, and if neither
she nor the groom held their heads
quite as proudly as at the first grand
entree, the father had not seen that,
and this one seemed all that could be
desired. "Look at dat brider' he
chuckled, in an audible undertone: che!
he! | never s'posed dat Melinda Ann
had sech a heap O. style to her. An
she's my philpi avs hut mint cha a