The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-01
RECoLLECIToNs OF BOYHOoD.


When I was a boy, living in the little
town of Bethany, Mo, a certain old
bachelor lived there named Iige Banta.
It was reported one day that Lige was
to be married, and the rumor attracted
much attention. Finally the name Of
the woman came out, but do not re-
member it now. Lige, to the surprise
of everybody, admitted that the story
was true, and that he would be married
early on a certain Thursday morning
and take the stage to Chillicothe on his
wedding trip.
I had a consuming desire to witness
q marriage. I wondered what the cere-
mony was like, and had a notion that
it was something wonderful. Lige Ban
ia, who ran q. butcher shop, was a friend
of mine, and I often put myself in his
way, but he didn't invite me. Finally
I made up my mind that I must see
that wedding ceremony, or die of Curl
osity.
The morning the wedding was to take
place, oversight, and was not able to
put on my Sunday suit; only had time
to slip on my everyday suit. which con-
sisted Of a pair of pants, a. hickory shirt
and a straw hat. Harrying into this
queer looking costume, I ran all the
way to the part of.tOwn where the mar
riage was to take place, without know
ing exactly how I was to get in. Arrlv-
ing in front of the house, 1 saw people
going in and gradually worked up to
must be time for the ceremony, a be-
lated guest hurried up, and, when he
went in, I went in with him.
There were 10 or Is men and women
sitting around, and my appearance
amused them. It was summer time. and
my pantaloons were rolled UP at the
bottom showing brown legs and bare
feet. I had on galluseS, and my hat
was an old straw affair, that was very
decidedly out of place at wedding
The guests, while greatly amused didn't
know 1 hadn't been invited, and didn't
put me out
Fortunately attention was soon drawn
from me. a side door opened, and Lige
came out with his bride. can't recall
her name; she probably belonged to a
family 1 didn't know very well. The
man I came in with turned out to be
the preacher, and he stepped up TO read
/ the ceremony.
was greatly disappointed; it didn't
amount to anything, and + half regret
ted coming. After the ceremony, the
/ guests went up and congratulated Mr..
and Mrs. Banta, and followed their
example BY this time I was attra citing
more attention than the bride and
groom, the preacher, and the brides
kin Iige didn't seem to care, and l
| thought I might find opportunity to
take him off to one side and explain
matters.
The brides kin had prepared a we'd
ding brea kfast, and when it was ready,
they invited me out with the others.
They had lots of fun with me, and
heaped my plate with things to eat, but
as I had a ravenous appetite at that
time they didn't have any more fun
with me than I had with them. It
happened that there was a vacant seat
next the bride, and was assigned to
that. I always did talk too much, and
| it wasn't long before 1 was impatient
when interrupted by the bride or
groom, the preacher or any Of the
| guests Soon after the breakfast was
over, the stage coming along, Lige and
| his bride left for Chillicothe, and
swung on behind and rode up town.
| When my mother heard about my
attending the wedding, she cried, but
she didn't whip me. She never whip
ped her children, but father whipped
/ his a good deal.