The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-11-04


of the Union, and are of myriad
shapes and colors. This inscription
is carved on one stone: "Abigail,
wife of John Adams, with John
Quincy Adams, then boy seven
years of age, sat on this spot and
watched the battle of Bunker Hill. +"
At the moment [ looked down on
Boston from that point, Boston was
feasting and feting in high carnival
the English soldiers who came over
three weeks ago to pay formal Wis
it to the 'Ancient and Honorable
Artillery of Boston. - 1t was a re-
turn visit for the visit the Ancients
had paid the Londoners two years
ago. If the men who lie buried at
Bunker Hill, whether English or
American, could have witnessed the
doings in Boston that day, they
would have turned over in their
graves. Such are the wonders that
Time works.
But maybe it will be more inter-
esting reading to my friends in Red
wood Falls, to tell them something
of the history which l am making
myself.
Last night I nearly did thing
which, had it been done, might have
been amusingly and yet seriously
historic. had my first marriage in
the church at7:30. When the young
man, a gardener, came to ask me to
marry him, I said to him that we
would better have rehearsal the
night before. ooh" said he, Il
don't want to go through that TOM
foolery." "All right" 1 replied,
eve will meet Wednesday evening
at the church,
I came to the church at the hour
designated, found it illuminated and
decorated at a great rate. There
were about $50 people inside to wit
ness the ceremony. I had scarcely
got my coat off (not the old ulster
now that I used to wear at Redwood
Falls; we are in Boston, you know
when two carriages drove up to the
door. The janitor Immediately de-
handed the presence of the minister
at the door steps.
II want to know how we are 90.
ing to march in, the bridegroom
said abruptly. I may mention that
the groomsman, brother of the
bridegroom, is as like his brother
as one pea is to another. | asked
the groom who was to give away the
bride. my brother" he said.
flattered myself that I had ex-
hibited great presence of mind in
saying to the groom, without mo-
ment's hesitation, well, the proper
way is for me to go in first; your
brother and the bride to follow,
keeping time to the music, six PAGES
behind me; you and the bridesmaid
follow six PAGES after them, and let
the other members of the party pair
off as seems best to their common
sense"
am yet convinced that this was
wonderful presence of mind, though
I concede that I neglected to ask
the brother to be sure and give
away the bride when he reached the
altar. I did not think it necessary
to go into such minutiae.
| started the march and remem-
bered afterwards that I myself had
marched with glorious disregard to
the tones of the organ; so easy is it
to preach rather than to practice.
I did not look around to see how
they marched. I suppose they did
it all right as did.
When I got up the steps I turned
round and saw standing nearest me
in the group of eight the couple l
took to be bride and bridegroom. I
started in with the service. | had
not got through with half of the first
sentence when the bride looked up
and whispered in desperation: This