The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-01-26

thee my trOth" and "give thee my troth" were,
imagine words of foreign sound, and we'll remem-
Der one young person. who wedding a most
vilanous- looking fellow changing her statement
into "thereto give thee my throat" There was.
perhaps, an unconscious prophecy wrapped up in
that promise.
The words accompanying the delivery of the
ring are every body knows, the subject of some
characteristic plumbers. never heard some OF the
more elaborate distortions credited to countrymen
but our people nobly distinguished themselves
over the clause with all my worldly goods thee
endow." They never blundered So aptly as the
fortune hunter who, in wedding heiress, unwit-
tingly said, with all my gOodly words thee
endow y they were content 10 produce a similar
sound with a sublime Indifference to sense. Il thee
and thou,""l thee do bow" Il thee allow ;" were
the most popular of these versions.
But nothing more clearly indicates the utter
lack of intelligence with which some of the poor
regard the services of the church than the that
once upon time came upon a youthful curate
solemnly and devotedly marrying the father of
bridegroom 10 the mother of his bride in the
presence of their own proper partners. The dis
covery was brought about in this way Ii was
Christmas morning, n great time for weddings
since Boxing day then remained for the honey
moon. Seven or eight couples had given notice
and the congregation was large. While one curate
registered the couples in the vestry another married
them in succession with such expedition as a slight
SHUTTER would permit. The old parish clerk, with
his list OF names, called up the high contracting
parties as the turn of each came | superintendent
the whole proceedings In the vestry were two
young people being registered whose names were
let Us say, Jones and Smith. Coming around To
the chance again. one was little surprised to find
the old clerk inquiring among the congregation
for Mr. Smith and Mrs. or Miss Jones. When
next looked in his direction he had brought up
To the chancel steps gentleman we'll stricken in
years and dressed in seeved waistcoat. The
bride was broad comedy woman whose turned up
sleeves left bare two monstrous crimson arms
Oppressed by an uncomfortable suspicion hurried
to the vestry, and there found the young people,
Jones and Smith, just paying the fees.
lis your father here?" said to the bridegroom
Eyes, sir'
as your mother here?" to the bride
Eyes, sir"
Now" said l to Jones the younger "look
through this door and tell if that is your father
being married there
"Well, sir" returned Jones, after a eisurely
inspection; "he's having it read over to him."
lis your mother alive?"
"She's in church."
1t the work of an instant to rush around
and stop the service But when the people were
dragged asunder, Jones the elder, in reply to an
indignant inquiry TO what he meant by il, cOOlly
replied well he" Indicating the penitent clerk
with jerk of his grimy thumb) told us to come
this way" That couple had been charged by
mention OF "the dreadful day of judgment, when
the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed" to
say whether they knew any impeachment
why they might not lawfully be Joined
together in matrimony; and they heard ii in
silence. So did the wife of one and the husband of
the other. have often wondered how far they
would have gone without remonstrance Perhaps
the demand for a ring would have precipiated the
crisis. There is legend told in great Yorkshire
town TO the effect that, after several couples had
been simultaneously married at the parish church.
one bride found her bridegroom walking away
with another lady on his arm. The curate
summoned to her aid demonstrated with the
defaulter, and besought him to take his proper
partner. NAY" said he "aw was married to
this'un, and loike her t'best" There is no reason
why this should not be sober truth.
4 kentucky Colonel.