River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-11-06
came approving cries of Oats so.'
s.Praise de I.nri'' A-a-men''

came approving GEAcS u bdbo So
''Praise de Lord.' A-a-menr'
Directly in front of the pulpit, and
facing the congregation. sat the two
elders of the church. As the preacher
went on with his discourse he empha-
sized his remarks by frequent raps upon
the big Bible, and after awhile he
would bring his hand down heavily on
the shoulder OF one or other of these
elders and say: 'Ain't dat so, brud-
der?' Yes! bless de Lord-yes,' the
elders would reply. but we noticed that
as the sermon progressed they began to
dodge when they saw tho ministerial.
hand descending. Probably their shoGl-
ders were getting lame.
The sermon concluded. the minister
called upon the bridal couple to stand
before him. That was undoubtedly tho
proudest moment of Aunt Susan's life
when she stood there in her short
sleevcd. IOw-necked white satin, with
her white net vail, fastened with aru-
fetal orange flowers, falling about her.
The minister opened his book and put
on his glasses. but the light was poor
and he could not see.
'Brudder Weskitt," he said, lies
han me der candle end OATS back er de
pulpit"
Brother Westcott found the candle,
lighted it and handed it to the min
lister. who held it in his left hand and
proceeded with the service. When
he came TO the place where the groom
should respond. he pointed the candle
at ;. Tibbs and cried: you say, L do. >"
and ). Tibbs obeyed. In like manner
Aunt Susan was admonished, and she,
too, murmureG. II do" Then the
preacher said, as he peered at the book
he held: DE book say: DE bridegroom
shall now salute de BRIDE" and again
the candle V.ss pointed at Mr.. TiDbs
with the order: salute dc BRIDE
Mr.. TibLs looked vacantly at the
parson, then at Aunt Susan, then awk-
wardly grabbed her hand and began to
shake it vigorously.
Kiss her. We fool, kiss her-doan' yer
know what a s'lute is?' said a voice
from the congrega ton in a stage whis-
per.
Mr.. Tibbs, nothing loath, flung his
arms about Aunt Susan's neck and at
tempted to kiss her, but she twisted her
face away and gave him shove as she
muttered: Ain yer shamed, right fob
de white folks. too = The minister.
now closing de book, pronounced the
couple man and wife, and they resumed
their seats, while the elders brought
forward small table and announced
that contribution for the minister
would be taken up Evidently this was
the wedding fee.
Walk right up. bred'ren an sisters.
Doan' wait fer one 'nOder," said the
preacher
A pause ensued, broken by man who
went forward and laid a nickel on the
table. Others followed, among them
several who wanted change for quar-
ter or dime These had To stand aside
AMI wait till there was small change
enough on hand. Presently the minister
remarked: Hope yerl all feel free ter
glib. White folks money jes' as 'cept-
able ter de Lord as black folks money"
So our contribution went IN with the
rest. When no more money was forth
coming the closing hymn was sung and
the congregation dismissed Meantime
= Tibbs had disappeared. so the preach
er had 10 escort Aunt Susan 10 her cab
in. where the bridal supper was pre-
pared. When they, with the invited
guests reached the cabin, they found
Mr.. Tibbs there. calmly awaiting them,
while his numerous children were roam
ing around she supper table, hungsily
eying the good things thereon.
And so we lost our kitchen treasure.
y TibbS is dead now. and Aunt Susan
takes IN washing TO support his chill
dren. while the white satin dress. care
fully pinned up in linen towels, reposes
in the depths of the one big ''chist" in
which the Tibbs children are forbidden
TO rummage--MaFion Thorne. in Good
Housekeeping.