The Meeker herald., 1889-11-09
AN OLD-TIME WEDDING.
Tho Story OF . Lovo Affair oi
Many Yoars Ago

A. this timo hoart md brain nc
moved by tho pictures. by brush and
pencil. of long ago wo nro thrilled
with tho politics OF tho infant nation.
brick md mortar fndS awny, and
fields and woodland stand unmolcstsd
hy tho band Of man; wo ~nlk with
stately step through tho city whcro
recent danger. pruscn, fcar-. and
future hopes mads men nj acart
trothcr- Tho history OF war. politics.
finances. has hidden tho homes u: thl.
period. and l, Ia glnos, with surpr!.,
that NO turn over ia. annal, of hun.
dr.d years ago To find ,ha; men loved.
married. died; that. whatever In.
changed OF customs or OF thought.
iovc moved mems hearts oven In those
busy times To brave to dare. In Cupid.
nr'ny. a letter written In 1898 by nm
o,d gentleman eighty years Of age. 10
Il nice, about 10 10 married. gives n
picture OF lovc affair Of long ago that
would arouse tho sentiment and .ym.
pn,hy ofn stole. After giving dcscrip.
,ion Of n sioiIh-ridc whcrc "i'ro,hcr
ShSA 'ost hss to THuClcNb
our annals, gees on to describe the
effect OF this meeting:
''But. Bcss. havo no; spun ou; ihi.
long story nbou, the slcigh-ridc for
nothing. Tho pi;h OF tho matter l.
TO como now. On this eventual eve
your grandfather wns shot indeed by
Dan Cupid. or rather by Prudence,
b. cycA Hs cnmc home -ighing
md simpcring. and looking very much
liko fool Ho dreamed nil night OF
that taper arm 40 closely confined In
light brown silk. Of that slender whist.
with tho broidcr.d stomgchcr; md.
OH moro than all. Of that sweet blue
con- and that auburn r.nglct whish
tho gypsy had allowed 70 escape un.
powdered. Tho mex, day ho won,
about signing iiks blncismith's
bellows And Sunday nf,cr Sunday
ho Travelled down TO tho North Church.
rugged GU, In hi, best attire. with hi,
corncl!nn brooch. paste buckio.. lace
ir.ll-workcd crayni. mud aii. to get
pop nj tho blooming Prudence. And.
vorily. l fear tina, her sylph.likc form
obtained morc OF John's attention
,hnn DIR. BIS sermon. Thus ho won,
on. until ho though, his circumstance.
would allow him 10 offer his heart md
hard TO tho fair dnm.cL
Now. Beiscy. l suppose you arc
all on up-toc expecting TO hear OF n
moonlight walk. stolen kiss. a STAN
morcd confession. and q blushinc
answer. But you will 10 disnppoin,-
cd. l.ovo had much grcntcr sense
OF propricty In those days His
votariss then had TO deal with rt,,d
old fathers and prudential mothers
instead of though,lcss girls. Your
grandfather sct himself down one
morning nt his desk. mondcd hi, pen.
spread out n broad shcct OF paper.
and. a'tor various trials, indi,cd, In u
hand like coppcr-platc. an humble let
ter TO the parent OF his beloved
Prudence. stating tho amount OF his
property. his yearly profits. etc. and
requesting permission TO pay his nd.
dresses To his daughter. John was.
rs 1 havc already said. esteemed
very prudent young man. so that Mr.
b felt no hesitation In returning
An affirmative answer. and. probably,
moreover. he chucklcd little Mt the
idca that Prudence was TO mako ou,
SO we'll.
Fortune had smiled kindly on
brother jacks love thus far, and now
WINS coming tho trying. interesting
hour when ho was TO make his first
official visit Ho shut up his shop
full hvo minutes before dark. Uo
swallowed his ten In such hns.e as al.
most to excoriste his tongue. Ill,
cravnt was tied and rcticd twenty
times, his hair as often touched with
pomutum and powder; and his three.
cornered scrapcr WAS Stocked down
liko well-curried pony. In IL word.
he spent more timo n his toilc, on
that cventful evening than during his
whole life previous At last he start.
cd for tho house OF his fair charmcr
Thrice he essayed to knock, und |
thrice ho essaycd in vain. l verily /!