The Jersey City news., 1904-10-03
BULL Pup AS A
WEDDING FEE.
Astonished Minister Gets a
Live Reward for Uniting
a Rustic Couple.
LEGAL FRIEND COMPOUNDED
Wager Between .he Lawyer
and Clergyman Converted
Doggy Into an x.
LEGAL FRIEND COMPOUNDED


large annual income from marriage
fees But a Newark clergyman said the
other day that very few of his brethren
received large sums for uniting couples
in 1natrimony He related instances to
prove his contention that large major
ity of men give the minister as small
fee as possible, and often do not pay
dollar for the service.
Last fall young woman called at TINS
minister's residence and said she wanted
him to officiate at her marriage to
wealthy ranchman from Texas at her
home. She was well dressed, and dia-
monds sparkled in her ears and on her
fingers. She said they were gifts from
the man she was to marry. The minis
ter scented large marriage fee from
the liberal Texan, who gave such costly
ante-nuptial presents.
At the appointed hour the clergyman
called at the home of the young woman.
He found it expensiyely and tastefully
furnished and he learned that the Texan
had been to New York during the day
and purchased at Tiffanys more dia-
monds for his faneee. Then the minis
ter was confident that he would get
-. 80; !, ,re, foo of go6 mr. g51
After the marriage service was per-
formed, the Texan took the clergyman
aside and said he was very sorry he
could not give him fee, but the truth
was that he was cleaned out of spare
cash gettin' ready for the splicin'. He
asked the minister for his address, and
| promised that when he reached lrls
Texas home he would mail to him
| cheek. The minister gave the man his
| address and left the house pondering on
the uncertainty of appearances.
II was never 50 astonished in all the
wears of my ministry" said the clergy
/ man. ..as when the big Texan told me
he had no money to spare, for large
diamond was flashing in his shirt bosom
| and a heavy gold chain stretched across
his vest. / waited a month for him to
remit the promised marriage fee. 1t did
not come. At the end of another month
| / wrote to him and a month later re-
| ceived reply. / tore open the envelope
hastily, for / expected to find in it a
check for at least $25, and needed
the money But there was only a i've
dollar bill, and the Texan wrote that
he was very sorry he had neglected TO
send the fee before
A brother minister in Washington told
the Newark clergyman of an amusing ex-l
perience he had recently. A lawyer
! friend said to him one day that ministers
cot a larger income from marriage fees
than many lawyers did from their prac-
tice. The minister said this was not true
and he asked the lawyer how much he
thought minister got for marrying a
couple.
Not less than $25 from most men,
said the lawyer ssand $50 from others,
and often $780,"
my friend. it is very seldom that we
get S25, or even So said the minister
AsI'll give you $40 for the next couple
YOU marry said the lawyer, IF you give
me all you are paid over that sum. !
make the offer because l want to prove
that you ministers do get big fees
The minister accepted the challenge
A few days after the argument with the
lawyer a couple from the country called
at the parsonage. The man had large
box under his arm. After the couple
were made one the man said
ssParson, hain't got any money. Ne
am her walked a right smart distance to
get married. But I've got something for
you in the box.
The rustic opened the lid Of the box
and the astonished minister saw in It
bull pup. He accepted the strange mar
riage fee. for he saw a chance to CON
found his lawyer friend. So he carried
the box to phe Office of the latter, re-
minded him OF his offer to pay $40 to
him for the first marriage performed af-
ter the argument,
i And I'll keep my word, said the law
A yer, .'for I'm sure you got good Tee
Tie minister opened the box and let
the dog jump on the desk Of the lawyer,
saying: Here is my marriage fee. " y
The lawyer looked At the bull pup, then
at the minister, ana then handed him SO
He requested the minister not to say any
thing in public about the natter for the
joke was on him. and i his lawyer
friends heard Of i he would never hear
the last Of II.