Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-10-06
BABY LEGALLY cHR1sTENED.



Swears Parents aud Child.
There used to be some funny ones
down by the Rio Grande." remarked
the tall. broad-shouldered Texan. when
h was his turn, 10 the group who had
been swapping lies over a number OF
long iced drinks. "Yes. there wers
some mighty funny ones. remem-
Der particularly an old justice OF the
peace down there. who performed all
sorts of Offices. particularly those of
a religious or semi-reiigious nature.
In the absence of minister He made
some awful breaks in his time; but he
didn't reach the height of his origin
ality until the day he christened the
newly born child of a cowboy named
Wilson I'll tell you about 1t.
"tn these days we never worried
much about ohristenings and such in
Texas, We simply slapped name on
a kid and IL minister happened alons
we had him so through the regular
form: II not, we let It so at that and
the kid never knew the difference.
This Wilson, however. was strong on
religion, though | reckon he didn't
know SO very much about II. and when
his pretty little wife presented him
with a son he set about 10 havs tbs
child regularly branded by some one in
authority, There was not. minister
within negotiable distance. and so he
brought the child. accompanied by is
mother and the intended sponsors, TO
cur justice of the peace and asked .,lnl
to perform the ceremony. . Nov, old
Bill' Scruggins- that was the js5.
tees name had never witresso. n
christening. He remembered having
seen a book about the house years be-
fore with rcrm of christening in 1t.
but where II WAS he could not rca,cns.
her. A man with less nerve would
have faltered. but not the justice.
Hats of in the presence of the
COURT he commanded,
"All being uncovered. he said: I'll
swear you in fust Hold up yer right
| hands
" us. too?' asked the sponsors.
:" or course said the Justice. All
witnesses must be swcTe in
Then looking at them all with COM
teal dignity he began the strangost
| christening ever performed; You an
each one of you do solemnly swear
that the evidence you shalt give in this
case. shall be the truth, the whole
truth. an nothin' but the truth, s'elp
| you Gawd!'
" You. John Wilson, do solcmnly
swear that to the best o yer knowl-
edge an belief. this yer child 10
yourn an yer wifo's to have an Ter
hold for yerself. yer heirs. exekyters,
administrators, an assigns fo- yer an
t!.eir use aa' behoof forever
/" I does.' q, swered the father.
"sYou, Mary Wilson. believe fD
man an boy; to wit, John Wilson an
son, TO be yer husband an child. an
you do further swear that you are law
fully seized in fee simple, are free from
all incumbrance, an hev good right to
sell, bargain an convey yer own an
husbands name to the principal In this
case; to wit. yer son an heir, his heirF,
administrators an assigns
40 does, answered the mother sol
EMMY.
j" Well, John said the Justice, WHIP
ing the perspiration from his brow,
'thatIl be about three dollars
/" Amt the child christened YETI
Not yet he amt replied old
scruggins but this is where the fee
comes in
"The money being paid over, the JUS
| tice put IL in his pocket and went OF
as follows: Know all men by these
presents that I, Willyum J. Scruggins.
Justice of the peace Of Waco. in tho
State OF Texas, being in good health
an Of sound an disposin' mind, In
| consideration of three dollars to mo
In hand paid, the receipt whereof IL
hereby acknowledged, do, an by these
| hev declared the child's name to be
| Willyum J. Scruggins Wilson, during
| good behavior an till Otherwise or
| dered by this court which now stands
| adjourned. Chicago Inter-Ocean.
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