The St. Johns herald., 1889-09-26


 night in mastering up the requisite courage for 8 gentle love-tap had l not helped his modesty with thun- dering jerk at the knocker, and then run away and left him to answer for himself
 'fJohn was ushered upstairs into a ! fearful circle, to begin his ceurtship. When the door of the parlor was opened one side of the fireplace dis played bevy of Prudence's maiden aunts, bristling in all the frigidity of single blessedness, knitting most vehe. mently, and casting, every time new row was to be begun, sharp and scru- tinizing glances at the young spark over their round-eyed spectacles. On the other side was MT. B., stretched at his ease in an armchair, in black cap instead of his wig, wrapped in a blue gown, with his brooches unbut- toned at his knees, quietly smoking his pipe. Mrs. B., in her chintz dress and mob cap, was at his side, engaged in making patchwork, whilst the lovely Prudence sat quite erect by her mamma, with her pincushion and housewife dangling from her waist, and her eye cast down, diligently pricking her fingers instead of her sampler. Counting was 8 sober busi- ness in old times. Your grandfather seated himself much nearer the spin sters than his deary. He showed his affection very properly by keeping at a respectful distance. He passed the evening in talking politics and the scarcity of money with his future father-in-law; in assisting his future mother-in-law to arrange her parti- colored squares; in picking up the balls of yarn as they were respective ly dropped by the maiden aunts, and now and then casting sly sheep's eyes atPrudence, at every instance of which familiarity the aforesaid maiden ladies dropped stitchi As soon as the bell rung nine he gave one tender squint at your grandmother, and took his leave"
 The winter passes on, each evening witnessing the same assembly in MT. B-'s sitting room, except the ra e occasion when Mir. Jack and Miss Pru- dence attended 8 tea-party, when he had the privilege of escorting Miss Prudence home, who made record of the tender sighs, the gentle hand of 4I,o c4n lyiSc Tho portant question was asked and an- swered; then began preparations for housekeeping; the young people es- corted by Mrs. R. and the three maiden aunts. At last comes the we'd ding, when we, by the magic of the writer's pen, became part of the we'd ding festivities.
 Presently the company began to assemble. There were then no hack ney coaches. Ladies and gentlemen both made use of natures carriages; and cousin after cousin, belle after belle came trotting along to Mir. B--'s in their pattens with as much glee as if they had been drawn by four royal grays. All at last were collected, and waiting only for the parson. Old MT. B., in his full-bottomed wig, velvet coat and brooches, gold buckles, waist coat reaching to his knees, conversed with his brother merchants on the usual topics. Mrs. B., in her plain brocade and snowy cap, only rivalled by her neck-handkerchief, was seen ever and anon to wipe away a truant tear. The maiden aunts, stiff as pokers, were giving to sister spinsters most minute accounts of Pru- dence's domestic arrangements, and were particularly eloquent in relating to them the many wonderful bargains they had made in conducting the pur- chases. The young men, in their Sun day suits, throwing off clouds of four every time they moved their heads, stood dangling their steel watch chains and making formal speeches to the young ladies who sat, with their cushioned head-gear, bolt upright, flirting their two-foot fans and blush- ing and simpering with maiden pro- priety. At last Dr. B. appeared, full dressed with gown. cassock and bands, with 8 wig that seemed to con- sist of a whole unsheared sheep-skin. For parsou to have attended a we'd ding in simple black coat and pauta- looms sixty years ago, Betsy, would have been deemed rank here5y; in- deed, have been inclined to think that half the power of ministers in my day lay in their wigs.
 ''The presence of the divine was a signal for the appearance of Caesar, in a green coat beautifully studded with steel buttons (probably the courting coat of Mir. B., for the coats lasted one generation in old times), bright red brooches, blue stockings and yellow vest; followed by Cleopatra and her flaming copper-plate gown and hoop