The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-20
CHEATING THE MINISTER.
How City Clergymen Sometimes Fare
at Weddings.

at Weddings.
Here in Brooklyn" said the min>
lister. land in large cities, marriage
fees form no mean part of a minis
ter's income, We receive all the
way from $5 to 500 per marrias e
generally, although in many instan-
ces we are beaten clean out of the
fee. In the first place, there's the
envelope dodge. One night a hap
|py. loving couple awoke me in the
middle of the night and wanted me
to marry them. l arose dressed
myself and performed the ceremony.
AS the parties turned to leave the
groom hunted through his coat tail
pocket, and when the brides head
was turned he superstitiously handed
me well-filled envelope. I bow ed
them out, thinking I had been well
paid for my trouble. 1 hurried to
my room and told my wife she could
have the new bonnet she had been
plaguing me about. tore open the
envelope, and what do you suppose
was in it?''
ssHundrod do11ors or eo9,
Ten sheets of reporters copy pa
per- 1 think that fellow was a
member Of the press,''
Then, there's the marriage-cer-
tifcate dodge. It's good one
I've had it played on me and I know
of a number of others who have
suffered. Here is my case: An ap-
parently well.to-do couple came
to my honse and l married them
After the consummation of the Ger.
emony the groom said be wanted q
handsome certificate with a costly
frame.
'"Let it be nice; anything below
$50 will suit. Call it twenty five,'
said he stroking his moustache
pompously. When can l have it?'
Il told HIM if he'd call in the
latter part of the week I'd have a
nice one for him. The certificate
cost me $17. They were gorgeous.
That's the friend up there around
my grandmother said minister,
sighing. The certificate can dc
purchased at cost price.
sAnother case is fresh in NY
memory, as it is recent date. Afte1
Ithad married a couple the groom
jingled the contents of his pockets
and then withdrew his closed hand
AS [ bowed with him from the front
door he got between me and the
bride, and shaking my hand warm
| ly, placed a large coin in it as he
bad me a hearty goodbye. l have
that coin yet. Here it is" AnG
the dominic produced leader
sinker that had been beautifully
rounded and sand>papered to make
it resemble a 800 gold piece.
Checks drawn on broken banks
or banks that never had any ex
istence, or banks where they never
heard of the drawer, cannot be
classed under that head. The
ministers of our cities could furn-
ish a fine. collection Of these if
they were called upon to do So
The etfrontefy of these depraved
beings always takes the form OF
bashfulness. They make believe
that they are too bashful to offer
the money in the presence of the
bride. Whenever l hear a bash
full man jingling in his pockets.
am not certain that his pocket does
not contain nails or keys until he
produces coin, and am not GER
tain of the genuineness Of the coin
until I have tested it with my teeth.
An honest, God>fearing man come s
out boldly, and in presenting his
offering makes joke about his
bride being worth it, or something
of that kind. That makes us all
happy and there is no need of fract.
uring ones teeth.
However, l was once fooled by a
man who did this very same thing.
He had neglected to provide ring
and loaned him one l always had
on hand. After the ceremony he re
turned it, asking me what my charge
was. l told him we made no charge
but if he fe.t inclined to remunerate
me he could do so. He loosely re
marked that 'he guessed his bride
was worth $25, and if she proved
good he'd send $25 on every anniver-
sary of the wedding. He called for
pen and ink and filled out check.
He insisted upon my praying for
their welfare before taey left, and
| did so. They had never heard of
him at the bank where the check
was drawn--n
And you was prayer out?"
"One minute! l really felt like
amending the petition, for it was
fervant $25 one. trust the way
ward youth was benefited by it.
He needed all the prayers he could
obtain by false pretences. The
ring he handed back to me was not
mine. When he felt into his pock-
ct for the check he exchanged it fol
a five cent brass one. 7 have used