Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-12
A GEORGIA WEDDING.
Society and Life ian the Backwo0ds-
Betsy Hani!tOn's NeiShbOrs.

Betsy HaMi!fOn's Neishbors.
IL had been whispered around that Jake I.of-
tbs hal frted Malindy Jane Trotman, and was a
hitchn' of his ridin nag up at our house; but
they didn't know that when Jake's critter was a
chawin' of our fence Malindy Jane was ingn-
merry in the house
The Trotmans is not the sort that sounds a
horn and tells they business to everybody, and
tor that very reason some folks tries to find out
ther affairs.
helIntiy Jane she KEEP ner sowin hid and never
let none of the neiehbor gals but me and Gale
dong see it. and Jake he got so he taken the nigh
cut, and gin old Miss Freshours and old Arminty
the dodge when he went to see her and they sot
it down that he had quit gwne. and that it was
all busted up betwixt 'em. or, ''Mebbe' says
old Arniinty, latter all he hain't never co'ted
the Cal."
But when the Trotmans let in to whitewashin'
Their house and fence, and then let in on the
trees around the house. they knowed in reason
it meant a weddin'; but thar wasn't nothn like
findin out for sartin. So Arminty took it on
herself to 90 over thar and stay the live long
day. She limited and limited but all she @eth-
cred from Malindy James NAV was that the
dock lowed lime was healthy.
Caledony was teln it at our house. and she
lowed that when granmammy Eve was leavn'
so much cu'0sity to ole Arminty she never for
to come ahead OF her. They didn't only white
wash, but they secured and fix up tel they
didn't skasely know they own place, but Ma
Indy Jane was the onliest gal the old folks had
and she didn't git married every day.
To be shO il they'd had Their own sesso about
it they never would have picked out Jake Lof-
tbs; bat who in all the lard could they have
picked out for husband for ther gal, Malndy
Jane?
Tie day was sot, and she ayed me and Gale
M Tn yr1Jf on hnr Hnl CHI
house and We all went together. She fetched
her waller bUT muslin (mine's off7n the same
piece and lowed me and her could fix and
dress alike. So we wheeled in and starched
our yaller buffs so stiff they'd stand alone. and
irOned EN- slick enough to see your face in EN-
and we tuck the artificial offn our last summer
hats and stuck 'em whar the Overskrt was
tucked up to one side, and we tackled a row of
cedar all around the bottom of the frock and
put piece under our breastpins and piece
III our hair. and l wisht you could have saw
us-l tell you we was fat. Aunt Nancy
lowed: Gals. for ali you do, don't outshine
the BRIDE
Buddy he hitched the steers in the Vaughn
and sot In the cheers. and we all went. even to
nav We went soon so as to hep Maiindy Jane
FIX. and bless you when we got thar the house
and yard was plum full. 1 won't be sartn but,
but think that everybody that come fetched
baby and a bench-legCcd flee and fOp-yeared
hound. We'uns alters tastens .'Old Scroupe"
After ilXt the arttcials in the fashion on Ma
1ndy James head and lent her nv neck ribbin
OTIS good luck to marry in sump'n borritD why
taken peep in the scttin' room to see who all
was thar and behold thar sOt the SimmOnses big
as who but they. and know i'm reason they
wastnt axed nor wanted; and who should be
mixed mp on bench al! in a row. but them tore
down Freshours' chllun grand as you please.
and still for the fust time in they lives. and
their faces was rally so clean didn't skaseIv
q Ina lv hn., ,I-
the night afOre. Their skin was as shiny and
SLICK as peeled ingOn. and ther har pastered
down tight with satf soap and they looked
plum satisfied.
Over in the cornder sot the three old maids.
Mss Bunch Beasev. Miss Patience Potter and
ole Arm inty Pendergrass. Miss Bunch is as broad
as she's long. and as good as she's broad Miss
Patience is as long as bean pole and as good
as shes long, and is funny enough to make a
doc Kill his SET a laughin' She wears a short
froc& TO try to make her look short and all the
colors of the rainbow to make her look Young.
Zap lows she looks like JOsephS coat Ole Ar
1ninty was Il settin right side of eIn. Now thar
was three ole maids as different as the elephant
and the monkey and the tiger So folks needn't
say Ole maids is all alike. And widders lacks a
heap OF bein all alike, too. The wilder Cominrs
was thar. and you wouldn't have knowed she
was wilder. But the wdder McAilister PLAYED
fShin for love, and put on sight of airs She
tack keer TO let everybody know she picked the
turkey and baked the later custards and half
moon pies
Jake he was the last one to come. He had
his head drippin' with lard and scented with Gin
namon draps. and his new shoes Was so tielit he
cGuldn skaSely walk. | wonder if Teller ever
got married without haTin oil tight boots or
shoes? -
Some town boys was out in the entry gig
GIN Cal lowed if shed a been Maiindv Jane
they shouldn't or been axed one Of EN- in per
ticker, disremember his name She 'IOwed he
p1 hat
needed. He had the ensherancc to laugh at
country boys with their home made leans and
all he was fitten fur was to wear fine Sunday
Clothes that wasn't paid for. He strutted around
mighty bigoty. and smoked and chawed ter
Dacker. and took his sweetened dram, tied his
craVat IN the fashion. pulled his mustache and
played with his Watch-chain and when he
laughed at them boys he laughed at his betters.
one good. honest. hard-wOrkin' country bow
like Ky Robertson. Cap Dewberry or lake Loft
Us is worth enough of his sort to build O fence
from here to town
Yes. everybody knowed when Jake got thar
by the cinnamon draDs. Brother Cole was axeJ
marry EN-, and as many couples as he has Joined
he don't know his piece; lie had to read it. and
they helt candle and dript the taller a inch
thick on the po' old mans coat sleeve. and then
after all he come nigh marryin' EN- by the wrong
names.
Caledony and ky Robertson stood together.
and and Cap Dewberry and when we tnck our
stands, Malindy Jane she got on tother side of
JAKE, and Brother Cole he wiped his snecks and
sot in to readin' and spellin out his words.
THE couple which now stands afure US fore
the occasion and henfit of being lined in we'd
lock. will please to jine they right hands"
Old Miss Patience Potter suueaked ont in a
loud whisper:
.'Lindy Jane, you air on the wrong side OF
Jakey." -
Then Brother Cole helt up his paper and read
on:
''WilI Won John oftisr
Jacob. not john" says Miss Patience.
''Wcll. then. we'll proceed to continued viii
you, Jacob Lofts, take the oman, Malissy
Ann"
''Ma-lin-dy Jane" saws Miss Patience little
louder Then in loud whisper: For the lands
sake don't git en married wrong"
well" says he. fling on piece of uobt.
oOd. or bold me a torch for can't see.'
some OF EN- grabbed torch and belt it high
Then Jist as fast as one word could follow tother
without stoppin to git his breath, he went on:
Il pronounce you man and wife fur better or
fur wusser salute your bride and if any present
has any reflections let 'em speak now or forever
afterwards hold thar tongue you're dismissed
amen ar"
Then old man Trotman slept out and lowed
" Gilt your pardners and go into Their house tn
supper: the ole 'oman-s got bite to eat in thar
and stitch as 1t is you're welcome to it," So we
locked arms and marched In to supper The
table was plum full nOthin' wasn't skace nor
SKINNY. The brides cake was sOt on block of
wood that was kiyered over with letter paDer
cut IN fringe TO hang all around the age of it.
III had thin whitewash over 1t. and was dressed
cnrinc Of