Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-05-22
TENNESSEE SOCIETY.
How Two of Its Members Proved Thom-
selves EQUAL to the Occasion

The Chattanooga CTenn.) correspondent
OF the Chicago Times some time ago at
tended typical Tennessee wedding at Sam
LoWell's cabin on Sand Mountain. People
came on foot and on horseback from all
parts OF the mountain, for the Lowells were
"sassiety folks" and had a comfortable
cabin with ten acres of cleared land.
1t was early in the afternoon, but a num-
Der OF visitors had already arrived. The
women were in the house holding consulta-
tons as to whether the bride should wear
her bonnet or not during the ceremony and
assisting her in the preparation Of her
trousseau, which was the finest ever seen
on the mountain. The dress was made of
white muslin and around the waist was a
wide yellow sash, with streamers almost
reaching the floor. This was the pride of
MANDY LowelPs heart; 1t was wider and
longer than any sash ever beheld in that
nelghborhood and the color was brighter.
She insisted on wearing her wedding hat;
"else what tarnal good war thar in a-buyin'
OF ltF' she argued. It had been brought all
the way from Atlanta, and been added to
after it came until it was a wonderful work
OF art The high crown was surmounted
by an immense white bow; around it was
beautiful red ribbon, while the streamers
were of the brightest blue. On one side
was green bow, and on the other scarlet
one, each of which was fastened by an i'm
mense silver-plated pin. The idea of not
wearing this hat at her wedding was not to
be entertained for moment.
w hale the women were discussing the de-
tails OF the dress and preparing for the
wedding supper, the men were standing by
the fence, each with one foot resting easily
on the lower rail while they Whitfield at the
posts and talked of the times when they
were young and courted the maidens who
were now their wives
The bridegroom had gone twenty miles
over the mountains to the county seat after
the necessary license. The squire who was
10 perform the ceremony walked medita.
lively back and forth in front of the house,
looking quite uncomfortable in the dancing
boots which he had put on for the first time
since his last marriage service ten years be-
fore.
The day was fast drawing to a close
when the bridegroom rode up with the
license. He was clothed In doeskin suit,
to which he had evidently not yet become
accustomed. 1t was the only suit of the
kind that the village store had and the
creases showed that it had long remained in
stock before it was sold. The coat was too
large and the pantaloons too short, but. as
the merchant said, ''that made no differ
ence; 1t wouldn't be worn more than once
or twice year." and to Tom Tilford's ewes
they were the finest clothes he had ever
dreamed OF owning He dismounted and re-
celved the congratulations of the guests in
advance OF the ceremony. He entered the
cabin and the bride blushingly retreated
into the impromptu dressing room, which
had been made by hanging a sheet across
one corner.
II knowed you'd git ketched," ''It stands
to reason that no man couldn't go with
Mandy 'thout gittin' stuck, think you'll
make as peart couple as was ever
hltched," and other rough but well-meant
expressions greeted him as he entered.
The brides mother acted as hostess and
In the midst of her cooking would run, with
hour stlll on her hands, to bid her guests a
hearty welcome as they entered. The cabin
consisted OF only one room ana IoIJ, WINE
a shed attached TO the room served as a
kitchen. The floor was Of puncheons, and
lime had been placed in the cracks and
packed tight with maui for the dancers.
An old man stood in one corner with a
violin He was to furnish the music, as he
had done at every wedding in that region
for many years. The women, on entering,
arranged themselves around the room; the
men. when the first greetings were over,
would repair to the front fence.
W hen supper was ready all gathered
about the table, but ate sparingly for the
hostess gave the caution Don't yer go to
eatin' too much, for the big supper is
a-comln'; not as / keer fer the things, but |
don't want yer to spile the big supper
After the meal the dishes were cleared
away and the wedding was announced.
The squire placed a Bible and a copy of
the Revised Statutes on the table and
said: This ere court will come to order.
InVT1 f0-1
whair air yea The bride appeared
from the dressing room retreat re-
splendent with her hat, the objections
to which she had overborne She
blushingly walked up to the side Of herloyer
and seized his left hand in her right "See
hyar, that won do" said the squire F'You
must jine right hands fer marriages; left
hands is good only fer divorces, and We don't
want to be divorced yit," and he chuckIed
at his wit. 'Now, both on you jine right
hands; that's right" he added, as they
complied with his directions. "Now let
loose and hold up yer right hands and kiss
the Bible" This was done.
Tom Tillford, do you solemnly swar to
take this var woman, Mandy Lowell, as
yer lawful welded wife, to have and to hold.
to love and to cherish, until death do YOU
part, and with worldly goods dover her &C
cording to statoots made and pervidedl Say
Il do"
II do" Tom responded.
snow, Mandy Lowell, do you selemnly
swar to take this man fer yer lawful wed
ded husband till death do you part and to
love him and take keer of him and obey him
according to Scripter and statootsl Say
i do.'"
She blushingly faltered her assent.
''Then, by the power vested In me as JUS
tice of the peace declare you Mr.. and Mrs.
LOWELL mean Mr. and Mrs. Tillford-and
what God and ], as justice of the peace,
elected by the honest voters of the county,
has put together let no man put asunder eff
he doesn't want to git licked by the hull set
tlement. will now kiss the bride accord
in to good old custom"