The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-30
BUYING DUSKY BRIDE.
It Was a Commercial Transaction, but the
Bride Was Sold For n Shinplaster.


It Was a Commercial Transaction, but the
Bride Was Sold For n Shinplaster.
One afternoon, when the skies were
black and the rain fell in steady
stream, Rev. Charles Colman, then
pastor of the First Baptist Church at
East New York. arose from his desk
and went over to his stu ly window,
where he stood looking ont at the riyul-
cts, forming in the street and glancing
occasiona ly over the brown. recently
plowed fields of the Schenck farm,
which lay in front of his residence and
which the rain seemed anxious to wash
away. Il hope" murmured the good
divine to himself, THAT there will be
no sick calls or funerals this afternoon"
He had double motive in the remark
that concerned the well being of others
and his own personal comfort. Hard
s had the reflection begun to pass from
bis mind when, through the grey mists
and vertical mazes of the rain, he
caught sight of IL black object coming
along the road that lay on the southern
boundary of the farm. AS it APP
preached it exhaled little clouds of
steam and puffed ponderously. 1t was
strange ambling, rickety figure, which,
when it reached Mr.. Colman's door,
materialized into a colored man, black
as ebony and clothed in that hue. Mr..
Colman, who had watched him curious
ly as he came along the road, felt as
sured that the funereal visitor who had
brayed the elements on such a day must
have sad errand. He stepped to the
door and opened it.
Boss is yo de dominica" said the
steaming and apparently exhausted
stranger.
Il sometimes go by that name," was
the reply.
Wall, boss. Use come on a mighty
'ticular urrand, | has
somebody dead?" inquired Mr.. Col
man.
''Oomph!' exclaimed the darkev,
bending to one side as if he had been
hit in the kidneys. s'Lor bress you, no,
no! Nobody dead as | knows on. You
doan tink come long in dis storm to
'blige dead folks? Is'e got NOAH sense
dan dat, dominic. Is'e dun gwine get
mated, dat's what's de matter, an
da.'s what's brought me hyar. Yo'
marry me?"
''When?n inquired the clergyman.
'.Now9 Right way? Soon's evan
yo' ken. Ise ticker to get mated 10
she goes way to Brooklyn
to marry here?" asked the clergyman,
whose face, as he looked at the weather,
wore an expression of reluctance.
mo, sab! She say dat amt perlite.
She amt no common Niger; f she war
doan marry her, you bet"
''Well, well, where do you live?" inn
patiently asked the clergyman.
''Out yondah-'bo=t mile" said the
negro, pointing into the mists and rain
that veiled the landscape.
With the best grace he could COM
mand Mr.. Coleman attired himself in
his rubber suit, and. TeuIaTking to the
darkey that he should have brought a
ferry-boat with him. he and the sable
bridegroom boldly set out. After wad-
ing to the knees in mud great part of
the distance they came at length to a
diiapidated shanty. Entering, thev
found number of colcred folks, among
whom was the ebony damsel who was
to be made bride. Her countenance
was as stolid and emotionless as a
mask. To the inquiry if she wished to
be married she opposed So" But
while all the others made expectant
movements she sat in corner, her
hands crossed like a sooty Vishnu.
Finally the bridegroom led her aside,
and after whispered conversation
with him it was remarked that she be-
came suddenly enlivened The cere-
mony was performed. The marriage
register was signed and the dominic
was about to leave. As he neared the
door the joyful Benedict followed him
and nonchalantly whispered in his ear:
BOSS, Use got no money, but if yo
want a job of white-washing done yo
call n me n l do it. Ise de boss cal
ciminer."
The clergyman on his way home re-
hected on the great boon of the Fiji
teenth Amendment. and dreamed that
night that he was bathing in the Black
Sea, and that the water was full OF
colored men, each of whom was drag
ging a black maiden after him, to whom
he wanted to be married gratis. Hard
ly had he awoke from his troubled
sleep when the door bell rang and a
colored woman was shown into his
study. On coming downstairs he
found the new made bride. She was
in great distress. Her marriage had
been a purely commercial transaction,
and it had turned out disastrously.
She was to have received, as 4 consid.
Grafton for her hand and heart the
sum of $50. She had, indeed. received
a $50 BILL She showed it to the clergy.
man. But it was Confederate shin
plaster. Some one whom she asked tC
change it as she was about to leave fol
New York that morning told her that
in the effort to sell herself, she hao
been sold. She wanted the minister tc
tell her how she could break the bar
sJaip - RrOobl,J,l EI0Ip