Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-07-24
AN OLD-TIME WEDDING.
The Story OF a Love Affair OF
Many Years Ago.


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 ut 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
ired years ago to find that men loved,
married, died; that, whatever has
changed OF customs or OF thought,
ove moved mems hearts even in those
busy times to brave, to dare, in Cupid's
army. A letter written in 1928 by an
DID gentleman eighty years OF age, to
a niece about to be married, gives
picture of love affair of long ago that
would arouse the sentiment and sym
pathy OF IA stole. After giving descrip-
ton of IA sleigh-ride 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
ong story about the sleigh-ride for
nothing. The pith Of the matter is
10 come now. On this eventful eve
your grandfather was shot indeed by
Dan Cupid, or rather by Prudence
BIS eyes. He came home signing
and simpering, and looking very much
ike fool. He dreamed all night of
hat taper arm so closely confined in
tight brown silk, of that slender waist,
with the broidered stomacher: and,
oh! more than all, OF that sweet blue
Gen. and that auburn ringlet which
the gypsy had allowed to escape UNI
powdered. The next day he went
about signing like a blacksmith's
bellows. And Sunday after Sunday
he Travelled down to the North Church,
rugged out in his best attire, with his
comedian brooch, paste buckles, lace
frill-wOrked cravat, and all, to get
peep at the blooming Prudence. And.
verify, | fear that her sylph-likc form
obtained more OF Johns attention
than DIR. BIS sermon. Thus he went
on, until he thought his circumstances
would allow him to offer his heart and
hand TO the fair damsel.
Now, Betsey, l suppose you are
all on tip-toe expecting to hear OF
moonlight walk, "a stolen kiss. STAN
mercd confession, and blushing
answer. But you will be disappoint-
ed. Love had II much greater sense
II propriety In those days. His
votarics then had to deal with rigid
old fathers and prudential mothers
instead Of thoughtlcss girls. Your
grandfather set himself down one
morning ut his desk, mended his pen,
spread out "A broad sheet OF paper,
and, after various trials, indited, in n
hand like copper-plate, an humble lot
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 havo already said, estaemed "A
very prudent young man, so that Mr.
B felt no hesitation in returning
an affirmative answer, and, probably.
moreover, he chuclSled 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 was to make his first
official visit 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
corncred scraper was sleelced down
like well-curried pony. In word.
he spent moro time at his toilet on
that eventful evening than during his
whole life previous. At last he start
ed for the house of his fair charmer
Thrice he essayed to knock, and
thrice he essayed in vain. l verify
believe he would have spent half the
night in mastering up the requisite
courage FOR II gentle love-tap had
not helped his modesty with thup-
dcring jerk at the knocker, and then
run away and left him TO answer for
himself
John was ushcred upstairs into
fearful circle, to begin his courtship.
When the door Of the parlor was
opened one side of the fireplace dis
played bevy of Prudences maiden
aunts, bristling in all the frigidity OF
single blessedncss, knitting most vehe.
mently, and casting, every time new
row was TO be begun, sharp and scsu-
tinizing glances at the young spark
over their round-eyed spectacles. On
the other side was Mr.. B., stretched
Mt his ease In an armchair, In black
cap instead OF his wig, wrapped In
blue gown, with his brooches unbut-
toned at his knees, quietly smoking
his nine Mira r. In her s.hintz