The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-01-05
Bu,ine q Marriage License.
From News and Observer. !

On Yesterday a colored man who ap |
reared to be about as broad as he was |
long whose complexion was = black and |
polished AS ebony, and whose h.tlr bore |
the signs of about sixty winters, entered |
the office OF the register of deeds with such |
a smile on his face as was never before |
Worn by mortal man, the sad smile beng
about eighteen inches horizontal by twenty
inches parallel. and in tones which indl
Gated the most eXuberant and blssiul
feelings asked for some o dem papers to
git married Wild The halo OF good humor
Which enveloped him was contagious and
in two seconds after he entered, every
| body in the Office was in a hilarious mood
| and willing 10 oblige him The accommodate
! ing register wa, quickly at work, and be
gan to ply him with questions, 'liow old
are you." asked the register. ''Gwine on
sixty was the reply, How old IS She.
| pursued the register. "GWlne on sixteen
| gurgled out the blissful feeling prospective
| bride groom. She was kittish at first
sho' as YOU born, but | knows how to tame
EN- / aint had four Of EN- for nothing"
| -Four WHAT asked the register Pour
| wives solemnly replied the applicant.
! At this, various calculations nere heard
from the croWCl, such as Great Scott. &c
| Whizz, Gumboration, and one old sinner
| biurted out "I'll be -,'' is she white
or colored?" asked the register in com
pliance with the law. ''She's darkroom
pIected lady" was the reply. "About how
dark asked some one in the crowd.
s.She amt much darker 'un dis" said the
old man, picking up an ebony rule and
holding it aloft; and then noticing q smile
| among the onloOkerS he continued: ''Oh!
don't have uOthin to do wid dis yailer
business. I've been dar and / knows. "
The papers were soon completed and
handed over and the applicant put them
in the top of his hat and started out.
''Iiold on,' said the register, you must
pay two dollars for that" sickenIng,
gloomy look overspread and contracted
the countenance which had been mo-
meut before so widely expanded with Joy
The old man grew solemn 1t was evident
= that his former marriages had occurred IL
a State where no license was required
Y Boss, he said plaintively, docs yol
mean dat." An affirmative nod was th
answer, The old fellow waddled up t.
n the desk and put down one dollar ant
t said he would give dat and no more.
e He saw no sympathy IN the crowd nov
and realized that he must give up tn
paper or diSgorge another dollar and tha
o dollar be did not have. Boss" he said
e dat lady is bootiful, sweet young lady
Is her mouf is jes as red as dis (pointing t
a his bandanna) and you kin see her teef
'e half a mile Can't you trust me for d.
)e other dollar" The register sadly shoe
rs his mead in the negative. BOSS she is (
lie waitin for me- tonight is de recepted TIM
to Oh, befo' de Lord, she is de most conspiht
oe little gal you ever seed. Her hair Is III
+ de goats on de cedars of Lebanon. Bos
won't you trust NE till tomorrow. "Cau
do it." said the register The old ma
slowly laid the paper on the table ar
Y. turned and walked se1ately out. I
is probably net friends, for i'll a few m
is 1nents he turned with the 1SX26 smile {
n, deck, put down two dollars and blithe
IS. departed.