Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-09
"Bethulia King"

ation-indeed, am not sure but that IL is
distinctly Buckeye-thst, not being articu.
late, is difficult TO express In written charao-
ters but II the two syllables 'hum, hum" be
uttered with closed lips the sound nearly sp.
proaohes this inartioulate yes.
When interrogated as TO whether she took
this man 10 be her husband, ETC., Bethulia
gave a modest little simper, and then, look
ing smilingy into the preachers face, nodded,
and said, ''hum, hum"
Then ] pronounce you legally and law
fully espoused husband and wife" repeated
the grave and solemn tones.
Immediately Bushrod's arms we're around
bis illegal and lawful espoused Wife" and
resounding smack was imprinted on her lips.
Didn't mean any Of you fellows TO get
ahead Of me" he exclaimed geefully, as II
score of envious yonng men we're waiting an
opportunity TO salute the bride but his arms
suddenly dropped and the joyous look died
out Of his face giving place TO one of horri-
fed amazement. as the awful words LET
us pray" sounded in his ear. The minister
and the patriarch were already kneeling, the
latter on one knee, with his hand resting on
the shaggy arm Of his stump chair.
As II shot, Bushrod dropped on both his
knees, facing the preacher but Bethulia, OBJ
jected TO kneeling before nothing, and, scud-
ding across the room, she seized small
bench, scudded back, dropped the bench be-
hind Bushrod then, going in front of it,
kneeled at his side, giving him poke in tho
ribs, which induced him TO swing around on
his knees as pivot, and socisbly lean his ell
bows upon the bench with hers.
Meanwhile the prayer had been msjestical-
ly progressing, ard the fret that fell upon the
ear, in the silence that succeeded this little
hustle Of arranging themselves, we're these
grandiloquent words:
And, Lord, grant, in thy most merciful
aud generous mercy, that in all the variegat-
ed and changeful vicissitudes of this feetin
and transitory mundane spere, they may ever
rest under the shade OF the outrageous shad-
ow OF thy wing"
Here Bethulia gave a giggle, received q
warning "hunch' from Bushrod, and preserv-
ed her decorum by stufing the skirt of her
dress into her mouth as Mr.. Dundee fervent-
ly prayed that during the nocturnal shades
of night the arm of almighty and omnipotent
power might be about them, and that they
might never massacre ontil they landed their
eternal, immortal and never-dyin' souls in
that celestial, heavenly home above the skies.
Amen"
As they arose from their knees the invis-
BILE robe of sanctimoniousness seemed to fall
from the minister's shoulders, and in genial,
of-hand manner he wished the young couple
every Joy the world can give"
Bethulia was Fastening to her neglected
cooking, when the first marital command was
issued
Here, Thule, you Jest slip up and git that
stocking foot out o. the till o. the red chist
We've got to pay the fiddler, 1 s'pose, if we
will dance"
obediently the young wife ascended the
ladder that in one corner of the room led to
the loft, while Bushrod, turning to the minis
ter, shook hands with him again, saying
heartily
81 tell you, but I'm all fired glad you come
along to-day, for we hev he'd such dog goned
luck a-tryin' TO git spliced. We lowed we
could squeeze it in between plsntin' and har-
vest but pantin' was late, and there didn't
seem to be no time till mowin' an hayin'
then harvestin' couldn't be put off, an there
didn't seem to be no chance. An since then
we've been on the lookout f'r some O. you
circus-rders, but you all seemed to give us
the go-by. Bout two weeks ago we hearn
there was to be q contracted meetin' or euth-
in over to Main, and we set out one night to
go, but it rained. Je Wilkins cats, dogs
and pitchforks amt no comparison, and Be-
thuly said she wouldn't go il she never got
married. didn't blame her none. though
I'd "a gone il she'd said so but didn't hev
no bunnit TO spile."
By this time Bethulia had returned with the
stocking foot, which she handed to her liege
and then FASTENED to her pots and pans.
Thar" said Bushrod. Untying the stock
ing.foot and putting the string between his
lips, he took from the little bag roll of bills,
and putting one foot upon the little bench
| began spreading them over his knee. "Thar's
forty dollars, clean cash, all honestly armed
How much do you want, parson, for this little
job ?"
"Oh," replied the preacher, smilingly,
folks mos gin'slly give what they think the
bride ia worth"
"wAall," said the bridegroom, with a mag
unanimous air, "here's dollar, and 1 don't
begrutch it eff did work two whole days to
arm il" and he handed the bill to the minis
ter, who took it, glanced at it obviously, and
handed it back to the astonished groom with
the words:
"Pr'tty poor pay, my friend, fur it's good
for nothin'."
"You don't mean it's counterfeit |" exclaim-
ed Bushrod, while the Patriarch laid down
his pipe, put on his spectscles, and ordered
him TO Hand it here"
After scanning it closely, he gave it back,
saying, That's genuine"
Yes, it's genooine, but it's wild cat >"
Wildcat 7 What's that 2"
"Why, them air Michigan safety fund
banks are a Dustin up like blazes md in To-
ledo you'll see the signs up everywhere, No
safety money taken here Why, couldn't
buy my breakfas' with it of 1 was starvin'."
Hastily running over the pile of bills upon
his knee, with the string that formed the lock
to his little treasure still dangling from his
lips, his oh SEX paled and he groaned despair
ingly.
"It's every burned cent Of it safety fund.
A whole years savin's gone cleans q whistle.
I'd never a. thought could hev afforded to
git married Of I'd "a known 1 hadn't cent
to fall back on, ;" and he sat down on the little
bench and looked despondently at the floor
All unconscious of this sudden blight that
ness of her happiness, was singing the hymn
that accorded best with her Joy. How clear
and even mockingly the words fell on Bush
rods ear
| 40 how happy are they
| Who their Saviour obey
| nd hRva laid nj their treaRure RbOVe