The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-26


wedding fees mortal man ever con-
ceived.
Toll bridges have not gone out Of date
in that part of the country, and the
Connecticut river is bridged with toll
bridges all the way between Vermont
and New Hampshire, with the eXcep-
ton of few towns. One dominic
united a pair from the opposite side of
the river and was handed an envelope
containing the fee. After the couple had
gone he opened it and found that he had
been given a toll ticket valued at about
2 cents. 1t might have been hint for
him 10 go over yonder before many
days, or as soon of the honeymoon
wore off.
A green looking couple drove up to
minister's door in the late afternoon at
one time and asked to be 'spliced.
The proper papers being produced, ne
proceeded with the ceremony. The
words being pronounced, he gave them
the certificate and the newly welded
pair prepared to leave. and in doing so
handed the clergyman a small bundle
wrapped in considerable paper. lie was
suspicious OF the contents. and took IL
TO the village and told the grocer ne
would exchange il without seeing for a
watermelon lying on the step. The
grocer accepted the bargain, took the
paper, opened it and found punched
silver three-cent piece.
This story is set aside by one told of
another country minister who performed
the ceremony for a pair who looked to
be in good circumstances. As the groom
was leaving he threw a pair of old
gloves into the lap of the minister's wife.
She resented it as an insult, and flung
them aside. A few days afterward,
however, wishing TO do some work re-
curing the wearing OF gloves. she
CHANGED to pick up the despised gift Of
the groom. She tried to put them on
and found great difficulty in doing so.
An examination revealed the fact that
there was a five-dollar bill crowded into
each finger. Fifty dollars was not so
bad after all.
I'D on the Vermont mountains is a
town by the name of Dover. 1t is a
small town. having a few hundred pop
ulation and attracts no particular at
tention from the outside world now. But
it was the scene of one of the most Gu
riousIy ended wedding ceremonies in the
United States probably. This is not
taking into account those where the
groom and his friends sharpen their
knives on each other before they sepa-
rate, as has been done frequently on the
frontier. But the story is this:
Ebenezer Sparks and Margaret Love
were married IN the year 1882. The we'd
ding was solemnized in a log house by
a clergyman who bore the name of
the Rev. Hezekiah Taylor Of an adj
joining town, and all the settlers were
invited. The story runs that Parson
H. A,k Re @r rfe~fV,
on his toes WI en- at prayer and letting
himself down suddenly to his heels TO
emphasize his statements. He did this
several times, but ventured upon the
trustworthiness of the cabin too much.
The parlOr floor with all it's freight gave
way and precipitated the entire gather
ing into the cellar The prayer has never
been finished and the resultant scramble
for the top in the ruins was an amusing
episode in the life of all those who took
part in il.
Vermont is credited with a good many
curious stories of that kind. but Kan
sas story quite matches anything heard
there. A couple went to a small church
out on the prairie and asked a minister
to marry them, which he did, and they
left without paying him any fee A few
days later a heavy wagon rolled up to
the door and a cOlored man unloaded a
huge barrel and rolled il toward the
house He said ii was from so-and-so
in payment for the wedding fee. The
barrel was opened and found to contain
nothing but white beans, carefully
cleaned and hand-picked The joke
on the minister was very pointed for he
had come from near Boston. He was
not 10 be beaten, however for he sold
the barrel Of beans for S15 so that after
all he was well paid for his services.
Another bean story comes from a diff
ferent section Of the country. A couple
rode up TO a parsons house astride a
horse and had nothing but a peck Of
beans for payment. Said the prospective
groom:
will you marry US for beans?"
NO" said the minister. Il don't like
beans"
Well" said the groom, you can sell
them for money"
Very WELL" replied the dominic
''climb down"
The couple climbed down, the ceremony
was performed and they departed as
they had come, on one horse. They were
the originatOrs of a large and brilliant
family and one Of the descendants tells
this story.
Another wedding ceremony in a prom
inent family of New England. hinged
upon the result Of a hunters efforts to
find some coon skins. The couple set
the day for their wedding. but before it
was to occur the young man went to the
lady and said:
Il haven't been paid for my work yet,
and I have no money TO pay the par
SON."
"Why. Isaac?' said she. what shall
we do? Haven't you any coon skins to
give him."
A coon skin in those days was worth
about 81. Isaac didn't have any skins
then. but he didn't tell his lady So and
went out that night and succeeded In
capturing two. He then took them
home and carefully stretched them on
the drying boards and returned 10 his
lady 10 tell her to be ready for he had
two skins for the wedding fee. She was
naturally very delighted and made all
due preparations for the event.
Imagine her surprise to see Isaac ap-
pearing over the hill the next morning
with a sober face. She met him with a
volley Of questions and he replied:
lone Of the dogs got hold Of the skins
and ate one all up last night and now
we shall have TO postpone IL again"
But the woman was equal TO the emer-
gency. She said
Isaac, go and ask the minister If he
won't marry us for one skim
Isaac did as he was hidden. The par
son agreed. and the ceremony was duly