The Meeker herald., 1889-11-09

courage for II gentle love-tap had ]
not helped his modesty with q thun-
dcrlng jerk at the knocker. and then
run away and left him TO answer Tor
himself
..John was ushcred upstairs Into
fearful circle, to begin his courtship.
When tho door Of tho pnrlor WAS
opened ono sido OF tho fireplace dis
played bcvy OF Prudences maiden
nunts, brlstling In all tho frigidity OF
single blassednoss. knitting most vehe'
men,ly. and casting. every tiino a now
row was to DO begun. sharp and sc-u'
,lnlzing glances NJ tho young spark
over their round-eyed spectacles- On
tho other sido WAS Mr.. B., stretched
Al his ca,o In IN armchair. In black
cap instead OF his wig. wrapped In II
bluo gown. with his brooches unbut-
toned n, his knees. quietly smoking
his pipe. Mrs. b. In her chintl
dress and mob cap. was ut his side.
engaged In making patchwork. whilst
tho lovely Prudence snt quite erect by
her mamma. with hor p!ncushton and
housewife dangling from her waist.
and her eyo cast down. diligently
prlcking her fingers instead OF her
sampler. Courting wns sober busi-
ness In old timeA Your grandfather
seated himself much nearer the spin
s,ers than his dcary. Iio showed his
affection very propsrly by keeping ut
u respectful distance lilo passed the
scae.ny Ut 'MShey with i'"his"f his "f,,asss;s; ss;;
faihor-in.law; In assisting his future
mother-ln-law TO arrange her pnrti-
colorcd squares; In picking up the
balls OF yarn rs thcy were respective
ly dropped by tho maiden nun,s. and
now and then casting .ly Sleeps eyes
ntPrudenco. at every instance of which
familiarity tho Aforesaid maiden ladies'
dropped u stitch! As soon ~ tho bell
rung nino ho gave ono tender squint
ut your grandmother. and took his
leave"
Tho winter passes on. cach cvcning
witnessing tho sa'no assembly In Ar.
B-'s sitting. room. except tho raro
occasion when Mr.. Jack and Miss Pru-
dcnco attended n taa-pariy. when he
had tho privilege Of cscorting Mis-.
Prudence home. who mado record OF
tho tender slshs. tho gentle hand
prcsruros. Of tho stolen kiss. Tho I'm
portant question was asked and an
swcrcd; then began preparations for
housekeeping; tho young people Co.
eorisl by MrA r. and tho ihrc.
maiden nGntA Al last comes tho we'd
ding. when We. by tho magic al tho
writer's pom. became part Of tho we'd
ding festivities.
Presently tho company began To
assemble Thcro wcro then no hack
ncy coachoI. Ladies and gcn,iomcn
both mndo uso Of natures carriages;
and cousin after cousin. bclio after
h-!lo camo tro,,lng along to Mr. Be
In their pAtinns with ~ much gioo ns
u they had been drawn by four royal
grnys. All n, las, woru collected. and
waiting only for tho ps~on. Old Mr..
b. In his full-bo,ioncd wig. velvet
coat and brooches. gold buckles waist
coat reaching u his knees. couvorscd
with his brother merchants on tho
usual topics. Mrs b. In hcr plain
brocnds and snowy cap. only rivailcd
by hcr ncck.handkcrchiaf. WAS scon
ever and anon to wlpo away . truani
tear. The maiden nunts. stin As
pokors. wcro giving TO sister spins,ers
most minute accounts OF Pru-
domestic arrangements. and
~cro particularly cloqucn, In relating
to them tho many wonderful bargains
they had made In conducting tho pur-
chnscs. Tho young men. In their Sum
day suits. throwing OF clouds Of nour
c.cry timo thcy moved their heads.
stood dangling thoir steel watch
chains and making formal speeches TO
tho young ladies' who sat- with their
cushioned hcnd-ccar. bolt upright.
flirting their two-ioot fans md blush
ing and simpcring with maiden pro-
pricty. A. last Dr. b appeared.
full dressed with gown. cassock nnd
bands. with n wig that seemed TO con-
sist Of u whole unshcnrcd shccp-skin.
For n pnrson to have attended n we'd
ding In simple black coat and pnn,a-
looms sixty yonrs ngo. Botsy. would
hnvc bccn doomed rank hcrcsy; In.
decd. hAvo boon inclined TO think
that half tho power OF ministers In my
day lny In their wigs.
Tho presence OF tho divine was n
signal for tho appearance Of Cnsar. In
IA green coat beautifully studded with
steel buttons (probnbly tho courting
coat OF Mr.. b. for tho coats lns,cd
ono generation In old timcs). bright
rod brooches. blue stockings and yellow
vest; followed by Cleopatra and her
flaming coppcr-pln,c gown and hoop
to initiate tho ladies. Tho former
sustained . mahogany tray. shining
like his face. sprinklcd nil over with
those very littlo tcacups which be-
licvo mndo their last appearance In
your baby-housc. Betsy; tho latter
boro twin waiter loaded with nut
cakes. symbols and broad and butter.
This ebony procession appeared and
disappeared threo several times; md
then tho bridal party entered. First
cnmo two pretty maidcns who longcd.
dare say. to bo in Prudcnco's shoes,
in white dimity. with tho eternal up
hcnvcd top-boots. escorted by another
gentleman and myself. In blazing
scarlet. Next camo tho happy pair;
Prudence slightly sufruscd, with her
eyes bent toward tho ground-not
her head. for. londcd rs 1t wns, the
slightest inclination Of IL might have
produced u motion somewhat liko that