The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-01-17
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
1T NEEDED THE AID OF A MINISTER
AND THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

ed Some Fun-The Preacher Proposed
an Hour For Thought-Annie Cried and
Charlie Paid the Foe.
Rev. William ii. Luckenbach of Hud-
son, N. Y, sends the following to the
New York World:
/ was once innocently made a party
to an attempted mock marriage episode
There was millinery establishment in
the place, run by several jolly spinsters
whose chances for matrimonial alliances
had been growing less and less for many
years. 1t was familiarly known in my
congregation as the "shop," and it had
become rendezvous for the young peo-
pie, who frequently happened in to ex-
change jocular greetings and enjoy the
innocent gossip that constitutes much Of
the pleasure Of intimate acquaintance
ship.
There entered tho "shop" one even
ing a woman who would have been Of
Tended if we had called her "old," and
of whom we would not have told the
truth of we had said that she was
young" Boiling forward laughingly
toward Amelia, one of the spinsters, she
exclaimed in loosely despairing tone:
"I am so tired of waiting for an offer
, Of marriage that I'll marry the first
/ man that comes along and offers his
, hand"
GOOD for you, Annie" said Amelia
| styI t~..k %Lak a
wedding here this EVENING""
Several others had dropped in mean.
while to enjoy the cheeriness Of the
shop 1t so happened that among
them there came fine young man, who.
Annie had several times learned to her
discomfort, was as witty a practical
t joker as herself. Incidental greetings
had scarcely passed among the bevy Of
merry companions before Amelia ex-
claimed, i'll tone and manner that at
r once quieted the salutations Of the mo-
I ment:
Charlie, Annie says that she Ia SO
tired of waiting for an offer Of marriage
that she will marry the first man who
, will propose to her. "
Lifting his hat gracefully, and look
ing at Annie without blush, apparent
ly unabashed by the unexpected chal-
lenge, he answered:
81 am at your disposal, Annie. How
a would suit your"
g Every good, said Annie. ""Send for
the minister and we'll be married right
b here on the spot. -
1t was not long after that my door
bell rang. Responding to the ring
found there the brother of the spinsters,
who had sent for me to come down to
the "shop" TO marry couple who were
looking for minister.
On entering the place and discovering
. no strange couple there apparently con-
d templating matrimony, / at once sus-
}. pected that was to be made party to
e some practical joke involving the mar
Is riage seryiee--a kind Of merriment or
"a pastime that could not encourage.
asked, however, for the parties to be
married. intending, if il should further
; appear that thecompany were expecting
. only amusement, to give them gently q
u brief lecture on the improperly Of play
y ing marriage and the risks often i'll
1t Cured by the persons doing this.
If Immediately up stepped before nae
Is Charlie and Annie. Meanwhile, as if by
h preconcerted action, there was no ezhi-
II bition at all of merriment by any one Of
!. the company
= was greatly embarrassed. Charlie,
knew, was engaged to an estimable lady
in Philadelphia.
u A happy thought occurred TO me. 81
IT will not marry you now, " l said, but
u / will return home and leave You az
d hour to think Of it. If at the end of tho
e hour you are still resolved to get mar.
e ried, come to my house and / will mar.
d ry you. -
% "Fine," said Charlie. "That's fine, >
"a an expression of relief as the same mo
ment overspreading his countenance,
"and whether we come or not" he con
~ tinued, "you shall have fec for your
trouble.
:. The hour passed away, but they die
~ not come.
,e Among tho callers on the following
s. day was Annie. She had come to make
rs explanations She had not intended tC
marry Charlie She supposed 1 Womb
n tedu ING lldEfIdSo htINlCO dS Usual, Uu
i when should come to ask her, "Do yor
:, take G. here for you wooded husband?
ETC., she would have answered ono, ,
and turning away she would have ha(
10 "the laugh" on him.
), "Yes, Annie, but suppose no had sale
is no before your"
1T "Then Of course it would have beer
A. on me; but he didn't think of that. !"
re but another and more important
A. view Of it, Annie, is this: 1t was no
necessary for me last evening to rea(
i. the marriage service at all. Had sim
= ply pronounced Charlie and you MAJ
=, :, and wife. you would have been married
~ y in law as effectually as if had read tn
whole formula from beginning to end. :
"Oh. Mr.. L., said Annie, bursting
he into tears. twas so nearly married.?
a. thought that you were obliged to rcat
As the whole ceremony, and when you
as came to question me, would answc'
y NO. aud that would end it. ! am s.