The St. Johns herald., 1889-09-26
AN OLD-TIME WEDDING.
The Story Of @ Love Affair of
 Many Years Ago.

4GEy . 0dE5 ASOs
 At this time heart and brain are moved by the pictures, by brush and pencil, of long ago. We are thrilled with the politics of the infant nation; brick and mortar fade away, and fields and woodland stand unmolested by the hand of man; we walk with stately step through the city where recent danger, present fears, and future hopes made men at heart brothers. The history of war, politics, finances, has hidden the homes Of this period, and it is almost with surprise that we turn over the annals Of hun dred years ago to find that men loved, married, died; that, whatever has changed of customs or of thought, love moved mems hearts even in those busy times to brave, to dare, in Cupid s army. A letter written in 1928 by an old gentleman eighty years of age, to niece about to be married, gives a picture of love affair of long ago that would arouse the sentiment and sym pathy of a stoic. After giving a descrip- tion of sleigh-iide where "Brother Jack" lost his heart to Prudence B., our annaiist goes on to describe the effect of this meeting:
 'But, Bess, have not spun out this long story about the sleigh-ride for nothing. The pith of the matter is to come now. On this eventful eve your grandfather was shot indeed by Dan Cupid, or rather by Prudence B-'s eyes. He came home signing and simpering, and looking very much like fool He dreamed all night of that taper arm so closely confined in tight brown silk, of that slender waist, with tho broidered stomacher; and, oh! more than all, of that sweet blue een.' and that auburn ringlet which the gypsy had allowed to escape un- powdered. The next day he went about signing like a blacksmith's s bellows. And Sunday after Sunday he travelled down to the North Church, rigged out in his best attire, with his comedian brooch, paste buckles, lace frill-worked cravat, and all, to get a peep at the blooming Prudence. And, verify, fear that her sylph-like form obtained more of Johns attention than Dr. B-'s sermon. Thus he went on, until he thought his circumstances would allow him to offer his heart and hand to the fair damsel.
 "Now, Be;sey, l suppose you are all on tip-toe expecting to hear of a moonlight walk, stolen kiss, stam- mered confession, and Q blushing answer. But you will be disappoint- ed. Love had much greater sense of propriety in those days. His votaries then had to deal with rigid old fathers and prudential mothers instead of thoughtless girls. Your grandfather set himself down one morning at his desk, mended his pen, spread out a broad sheet of paper, and. after various trials, indited, in 8 hand like copper-plate, an humble let ter to the parent of his beloved Prudence, stating the amount of his property, his yearly profits, etc., and requesting permission to pay his ad- dresses to his daughter. John was, as l have already said, esteemed a very prudent young man, so that MT. B. felt no hesitation in returning an affirmative answer, and, probably. moreover, he chuckled Q little at the idea that Prudence was to make out so well.
 "Fortune had smiled kindly on brother Jacks love thus far, and now was coming the trying, interesting hour when he wGs to make his first official vi>it He shut up his shop full five minutes before dark. He swallowed his tea in such haste as al- most to excoriate his tongue. His cravat was tied and retied twenty times, his hair as often touched with pomatum and powder; and his three eornered scraper was sleeked down like we.l.curried pony. In a word, he spent more time as his toilet or that eventful evening than during his whole life previous. At last he start e for the house of his fair charmer. Thrice he essayed to knock, and thrice he essayed in vain. verify