News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-10-02

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induce her to select any other ma
terial.
Il doan eber 'xpect ter be married
| agin," she declared "'n' Mr. Tibbs he
likes white satin, to, n I'm goin' ter
hab it," And have it she did.
The wedding was to take place in
the little church in the village, and
Aunt Susan would have felt aggrieved
| had we not been there, SO, of course,
we went. The church was full to ov-
erfowing when we got there, but
seats had been reserved for us, seats
of honor, evidently, as they were di-
rectly behind the bridal party and
Just in front of the pulpit. Brother
White, the minister, whose name was
decidedly mlsnOmer, presently be-
gan the regular Sunday service, al
| though it was not Sunday, announc-
ing as his text, "And de valley was
full of de drilled bones," prolonging
and dwelling upon the word dried. 1t
was a queer text for a marriage ser
vice and quite as queer was the ser
mon preached from it. Beginning
with Adam and Eve in the Garden, he
went on through all the prominent
events in the old Testament, prefac-
ing each fresh item with repetition
of the text, "And de valley was full of
! de drilled bones," and at each repeti-
ton one and another of the old
women in the congregation would
sway back and forth, half-humming,
matchmaking, "O-o-m-oo-oo-O-om-o-
om,' while from the brethren came
approving cries of Oats sor
"Prase de Lord - " A-a-men
Directly in front of the pulpit, and
facing the congregation, sat the two
elders of the church AS hepreacher
went on with his discourse he empha-
sized his remarks by frequent raps
upon the big Bible, and after a while
hewould bring his hand down heavily
on the shoulder of one or other of
these elders, and say, CAIN dat SO,
Brudder?'' Yesl bless de Lord
yes !" the elders would reply, but We
noticed that as the sermon progressed
they began to dodge when they saw
the ministerial hand descending
Probably their shoulders We're getting
| lame.
The sermon concluded, the minister
called upon the bridal couple to stand
before him. That was undoubtedly
theproudest moment in Aunt Susan s
life when she stood there in her short
sleeved, low-necked white satin, with
her white net veil, fastened with arti-
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, "ies'
ham me der candle end dat's back er
de pulpit
Brother Westcott found the candle,
lighted it and handed it to the minis
ter, 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 thecandle
at S. Tibbs and cried, "You say 4
do" and S. Tibbs obeyed. In like
manner Aunt Susan was admonished,
and she, too, murmured 81 do
Then the preacher said, as he peered
at the book he held. "De book say,
DE bridegroom shall now salute de
I
pointed at Mr. Tibbs with the order,
"Salute de bride"
Mr.. Tibbs looked vacantly at the
parson, then at Aunt Susan, then
awkwardlv grabbed her hand and be
gan to shake it vigorously
g Kiss her, We fool, kiss her-doan
yer know what s'lute is?" said a
voice from the congregation in a
stage whisper.
Mr.. Tibbs, nothing loath, flung his
arms about Aunt Susan's neck and
attempted to kiss her, but she twisted
her face away and gave him a shove
as she muttered, "Ain' yer 'shamed
right toh de white folks, toor' The
minister, now closing "de book, .
pronounced the couple man and wife
and they resumed their seats, while
the elders brought forward a small
table and announced that a contri
button for the minister would be tax
en- up. Evidently this was the we'd
ding fee.
"Walk right up, bred'ren an sis
ters. Doan wait fer one 'noder," said
the preacher.
A pause ensued, broken by a man
who went forward and laid a nickel
on the table. Others followed, among
them several who wanted change tor
a quarter or a dime. These had to
stand aside and wait till there was
small change enough on hand. Pr
entity the minister remarked, Hope
yer'l all feel free ter glib. White folks :
money jes' as 'ceptable ter de Lord as
black folks's money" So our contri
button went up with the rest. When
no more money was Forthcoming the
closing hymn was sung and the con
gregation dismissed. Meantime S
Tibbs had disappeared, so the preach
er had to escort Aunt Susan to hel
cabin, where the bridal supper was
prepared When they, with the in
vited guests reached the cabin, they
found Mr.. Tibbs there, calmly await
ing them, while his numerous children
were roaming around the supper ta
bic, hungrily cycling the good things
thereon.
And so we lost our kitchen treas
ure. 5. Tibbs is dead now, and Aunt
Susan takes in washing to support
his children, while the white satiI
dress, carefully pinned up in liner
towels, reposes in the depths of ont
big chist in which the Tibbs child
rem are forebidden to rummage.-
LGood Housekeeping.