The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-12-25
AND THE FIRST
SHALL BE LAST"
4 [Originul,1

~ L -EE-- r1a-L E=E-EH N
/ was at work on my Sunday ser
mon when my wife opened the door
She was laughing.
There's a young fellow downstair.
who says he wishes to see you abou,
marrying him.
i didn't like to break OF from tn.
thread of my discourse; but, laying
down my pen, l went into the parlor
There stood the youngster, six feet IL
height, strong as Sampson. light hair
ed. blue eyed, red and brown complex
Ion. shocky hair. His trousers were
in his boots and were supported by q
pair Of country store galluses over 4
WOODEN shirt; no coat; a felt hat in
his hand. He had come in with an o.
whip over his shoulder, which be
placed on the mantel. Evidently he
regarded the furniture as too good tc
sit on; at any rate. he was standing.
BE you the parson?" he asked.
II am"
Say, parson, II I figger roun' today
an git things fixed, could l come up
here long with a gal an git married?'
Certainly. l shall be here all the
morning. l have some parochial du.
ties for the afternoon, but IL / knew
the hour you would be here 1 would
be on hand"
Il amt done it all yet. I done il
except one thing. I got my license.
That's already. ! got it more'n a
week ago
'That's the only really important
natter l replied to help him on.
"'N you got a certificate, hain't
you?"
Lots of them. in blank"
swell, that's two t%hings-the GER
tificate and the license"
"You're right; that's two very i'm
portant things, n indispensable and
the other convenient"
"'N' here's a place to get married
in."
"Has your tiancee got her trous-
seau?"
whats them"
1.-THE first means sweetheart, the
second the clothes brides usually get
together 80 they won't have to call On
their husbands for some time after the
wedding for such articles"
He stood thinking for a moment.
then looked up and said with anima-
ton:
"By cracky. parson, that's a good
Idea. Never thought o. that"
HAS she got it?'
"Oh, | don't know nothin' bout that.
be fust rate for me to talk
about that. 'Twould be dead mean
cheap"
"There are more important things
for the man to say, l grant, and more
"What are they?"
well, the first thing ID the pro
That's just the trouble with the
business"
did you find it didicuit2"
Difficult? You bet. I hain't got
with it yet"
"Pheww looked at my wife. She
behind the young man and was
her handkerchief Into her
mouth to stop an outburst Of laughter.
My exclamation was made under my
but the youth saw 1t.
'Just you hold on, parson," he said.
I'm good for it yet. Just gimme time. /
But I'd rather drive my OK team up
stone wall, l would. She's in town
e e her in a store buyin' !
some stockin's. That's why I came up
here"
Don't you think you'd have better
the matter with the girl drst?"
WELL" he frowned, there's differ
ways of doin' things. Eff I'd asked
ner and she'd said yes what in thun-
Ter would N "a done with nothin' |
IT,.
Are you sure you have the pluck
Now, parson, don't you worry bout
hat. I'm going right off to find her.
FOUL be here when ! get back, will
you"
I'd stay i'll I'LL day to marry such q
Inc. fellow as you. Go ahead. Remem.
Der what General Grant said when he
irst marched q brigade against the
,onfederates."
"What'd he say"
That he remembered the enemy
would likely be as much frightened as
,e."
"Oh, she won't be frightened. Gals
lon't skeer worth a cent"
He grabbed his whip and in a ii6y
vas out of the house and striding
the street.
I went back to my sermon and wrote
or an hour when my wife threw open
ny study door, exclaiming:
They're coming!!"
"Who?" 1 asked. not SO readily turn
ID from my subject.
1.-THE young OK driver and his girl.
II went downstairs, and there in the
'arlor were the pair. They had just
ONE in. The man looked as If he were
n a battle and vas looking for an enc
ny and an enemy was looking for him.
he girl, a little country beauty, was
smiles and bushes. with struggling
81 done it. parson," said the OK driv-
II proudly.
$50 I perceive"
MY wife stood them up before the
aantel and had more trouble to get
hem placed properly side by side than
pair Of skittish horses. Then | mar
led them,