Tombstone epitaph., 1891-02-01

eludsd % accept an invitation % cordially given, and laid down on the mattress that had been spread on the floor tor my ae- eotnmodation, thinking of the happy go ineky way in which people in the country get married
 About noon the next day the guests who had been biddsn began te arrive some on foot, some on long legged horses and some oD short legged ponies, while others came in Tickety wagons drawn by oxen that looked as though they might have been imported from the Kingdom of Lilliput, and from that time out there was fun and feasting-that Is, if potas0es and pork served la various ways can be said to constitute a feast.
 About sunset a man reeling drunk rode RP and was helped off of his horse.
 ''aesg ere yeF Iedga2' said mine host.
 ''H'no, Stringf'Ier,r r said the jedge, looking around stupidiy at the assembled guests, who were laughing and giggling, ''whiehfs th' 'cuseds"
 ''why, you ain't in eo'rt, jsdge, l" rs- piled Stringfellow. 'sThis here's a mar riags feas' yer've come to-yer've come here to marry my two gals, Nanc an' Msrier."
 That's so, said the jedge, rubbing his head. ''I knowed th' wuz somp'a' I'd come fur. Les b'gin."
 ''Well, come inter the house fust, '' said the old man.
 "An right, c'm'on, ," and with iurch and tack the speaker got inside the door, when he feIl sprawling on She floor. He WAS helped uD and given the back of a chair to steady himself by.
 ''Th's 'ere's tn dogondes' oner'nes' fio' yer seed StriHgfler," he said Stan p, pris' 'ner."
 'I tells yer this here ain't no co'rt, tay4r., z,;, i'd Et.- hing to get nettled, "un' my gals ain't no pris'n 'ners."
 ''Oh, we'll, It's aT same" said the iedge. Stan p, gals, n hole D right han"
 ''W' ats thet fuT9'' asked Nancy, as she and her sister ana the two bridegroonIs stood up in a row.
 Guilty ur noI''- began the jedge, and then reeollectiEg himself: DO you" pointing at Nancy, 'everiastin'ly sw'ar to take this here young fer" pointing to Mericr's affianeed.
 No, I don't, " said the girl; ''thet's'--
 ''To heve an t hOIe," went on the iedge.
 No, I don't, ," repeated Nancy, stamp ing her foot
 Yer dOn't?''
 ''NO, I don't"
 Then t's case mol pros, an this hers co'rt's 'iourned." "
 Look a here, iedge," said the girls father, II done tole yer this here ain't no co'rt-this here's weddin'--thet's wat 1t is, don't yer onnerstaE'T''
 ''Yesh, that's all right, ole man." said the jedge. ~ see l knOwed he'd q case t' try an got sorter confused. Les g back an b'gin over. W'at's gyeddin's name - men W'at's gals an' Hers nameg'
 ''Thar's two gals said the old man. ''Nanc' an MeTier Striugfeiler, an they's q going marry Dick Dander an' Pete Prin- s!e. E'h2- they stan's right sfore yer, now go abead.''
 Al right. D'yOu, Nanc', take this here Pete
 ''No, I shan't, :" said Nanc', trhe ain't"-
 Yer don't an' V shan'E; thet pears to be 'oOut ali yer're guilty ", pris'ner,'f said the jedge, relapsing into court jargon, ''an' don't see uOth'n' t' do but 'schargs you. Gives a drink, Stringf'ler; co'rI's 'juurued'
 StrjngfellOw was at bis wits end. though his son, Bill, said 1t was as good as n circus, and the company in general seemed to be highly delighted with the PerfOTElance. There appeared to bs nc PossSs&iity of Keeping the jedge on tue right tack, and the court was about to be E4.DiEAttA SlIle etSr sure GNeAEn, when ] suggested the propriety Of complying with his request, and giving the legal func- tionary a dram, which might brighten him Ep long enough to e1able him to go through with the ceremony properly. Ac- eOrdiugiy he was taken into the shed room, where the boys slept, and in a few minutes came out agaia with his free wresthed with smiles. may use the ex- pressi0n iB very truth in this ease, for every feature seemed to be twisted this way CT that with smile of it's own, so that he presented a most eomieai appear Hnce of would be afTability.
 He was hurried 10 the front while the steam was up, when he went through the usual formula in a disiointed way and immediately collapsed and was put to bed, where he lay snoring through all the noise made by the young people, only shouting out occasionally, .'Silenee n eo'Ft."
 Tho froiic lasted all night, the cabin, from which the beds had been remavel, being transformed into q ballroom, in one corner Of which an old crippled negro sat scrapinS raSping fiddle and calling out the figures of the aRnce Nftil a steuto-ian voice that was somewhat eracked.- Robert Boggs in New Orleans Times FNHvrra-74gs