The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-07-11
THE WEDDING.

ing OF one OF the gospel hymns. The
sound proceeded from a little chapel
which ] had passed in my walk. and
~retracing my steps. ! entered the door.
and soon found myself In the presence
OF quite a congregation OF blacks. who
were engaged In holding a meeting
conducted by n OF their w color.
At the conclusion OF the hymn the peo-
pie seated themselves, and IL was very
evident from appearances that ONE
thing out OF tho usual course was cx-
pected. for the sdarkies" were all on
the alert, and a feeling OF anticipation
was universally manifested. After a
few moments my curiosity was graft
fled by hearing the following announce
ment from the lips OF the preacher: III
de parties what intend to commit mat
rimony will perceod TO advance for
ward In frunt oh dc altar. / will also
perceed TO jine 'em In do holy bands"
Two persons Immediately rose from
their seats I'm one OF the front pews.
and walking toward the pulpit stood
before the speaker. who then addressed
them as follows:
Pete johnson. do you mean to deal
fairly by dis woman. and Tub her dear
ly all de days oh your mortal life; and
also do you"
..Ycs, sah!" replied the willing BRIDE
groom.
Don't you be in too much oh q hur-
ry." said the preacher. IL hadn't got
half fru wild my fust question yet; so
you jcs keep still a while. and don't
allow you'se'f 20 get into too much of
a preparation"
but sah," interrupted the man.
1--WE didn't cum In here for TO be lee
tered to; we cum In for the spress pur-
pus Of being jined togedder in we'd
lock. and we don't want you 10 ron
SOON too much time in dc preliminaries.
Me and Jemimy mean for 70 take a
tower; dc kyars won't wait for nobody.
and besides dat. can't you perseave
dat she's a-gettin' nervou a-standin'
up here aforc folks $3.50 conspicu
ousgn
The parson drew himself up TO his
full height and expanded his broad
chest; then raising his right hand, X
claimed: pete johnson. ] know'd you
aforc you knew nuthin'. when you
didn't know nuthin'. Wasn't / present
on dat 'casion when your dear old
nanny (who Is now a-singin' halle.
l~oojars In anuther WORLDLY chastised you
publicly wild her slipper for cummittin'
"a disdomeanorp IL was dat day hen
you ruined away from skool and den
told a lie about IT,. / woodn't have de-
luded TO Mat unfortunit surcumstans
rite here in public II you hadn't brok'
in and 'terrupted me In de midst oh my
remarks. | want you and all de rest
oh my flock To understand dat I'm hear
tonight In my 'ishal capacity, clothed
In a new black coat and all de terrors
of dc law, and consequently am 10 be
'spectcd accordingly. I've "a good
many mental fireworks on hand to-
night. which ! tend TO let off for your
illumination and dat oh do congrega-
ton here assembled. Beside dat. you
ought TO know dat talkin' back In meet
in amt lowed in our connection.
Only Piscopals do dat. and chen dey
amt lowed TO indulge In any 'riginal
remarks. fur all dey say is all printed
out for dem. / hab heard. howcber.
dat some oh de fash'nable sccts are
tryin' TO initiate dem by usin' what dey
call a responsive service; but such
things don't meet wild my 'proval. I've
wandered of a little. but I'll get derc
all de same You'd better be silent
and hear nll I've got 10 say, for II III
do you and Jemimy good. I don't
ofen get you two In here 10 talk TO.
for. like some odders 'mong dc bred
dren and s~istren. you are toe frequent
ly- conspicuous by your absens. So
I'm goin' for 10 improve de present
'casion and show you up aforc dis con-
gregation. don't care nickel whcd-
der you pay me a dollar for dis job or
not for | intend for 20 get all it's
worth In dat salubrious fcelin' oh In
ward satisfaction which cherry Plus.
sobcr-minded pusson experiences when
he's gone and done his duty In a hum
gumptious manner. Dis here prelim-
nary peramble might have been
'breviatcd somewhat II. you hadn't
brok' In and tcrrupted me In de midst
oh my discoorse. To resoom de thread
OF my remarks; ] was 'tendin' for TO
ask you. In dc midst oh dis 'scmbly.
whcdder you really dubbed dis 'omanp
..P'r'aps you think dat because I am
40 unfortunit ~ 10 wear n glass eye
dat / cant nlwuz see what's O. goiE' on
round me; but let me tell you dat I've
had my good eye on you for some time
past and 'blivious 10 dc fact Oh your