Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-01-30

muslin. A pair of No. il brogan
shoes, the tops Of which lacked several
inches of meeting the fringed ends ot
his pants-and he unfortunately not
having been brought up to the luxury
Of underwear unblushlngly exposed Il
strip Of bare flesh about six inches
wide Intervening between pants and
shoes. A cheap dirty brown wool hat.
which had been worn until every par
ticle OF Its original shape was gone
decorated the conlcal head.
Alas. ! am through-nothing else to
describe. Shirt, pants. shoes and hat
were all the young man possessed as
yet, but he was soon to possess low.
Ing wife, 10 what cared he?
j lent him collar: but, as | wear
a l7ia and he 10 inch one, by pin.
ming his ears back he could slip II Oh
over his head buttoned. \ hat was
the next thing needed. which | will.
ingly gave him. Seven three -eighths
is my size. On his, which. although not
n perfect fit. harmonlZed nicely with
the collar. His ears kept 1t from going
entirely over his face. but he had to
tilt II back little In order to see.
lie drew the line at wearing n forty.
two inch coat and vest which | offered
him. saying. I'm afeard folks II no.
tice that 1t don't fit. and Id ruther 60
In my shirt sleeves anyhow"
He had his long, single barrel. muz-
gle loading shotgun with homemade
stock (his father having broken 1t some
twenty years previous In n fight with
wounded panther In which lie had
to use his dubbed gun to save his life).
which he proposed TO take along 10 pro
tect his bride and TO shoot any wild
turkeys or squirrels he might see while
going through the swamp. After Dor
rowing some powder and shot of me
and loading his gun they at last start
cd ON their tramp.
They left my place ut Z o'clock and
got back again happy man and wife
at 2 p. m. after walking ten miles. Il
large part OF the way through miry
sloughs and water half leg deep.
The bride was carrying three gray
squirrels by their tails. killed by her
new husband OH their way back through
the swamp. which made her feel quite
proud of his skill ms n hunter
They related to me an occurrence
that came very near destroying the
sweetness of their honeymoon. for our
hero had nearly killed negro.
Near the Office where they went was
a turpentine still, the owner of which
came from Quitman. Ca. and he had n
family of three or four boys from ten
to fifteen years old.
In some way they got wind that there
was something doing at the post
Office and We're not far of when our
newly married couple came out to start
for home. One of them yelled High
water pants" another "Shoot the
hat. another Put on your socks
still another let ont your suspend
ers." all of which was borne meekly
by our hero. but when negro came
along who asked him how long he
had had the cholera and did 1t hurt
him much. referring to his collar. which
bounced up and hit his ears every step
he took. 1t was too much for him to
stand. He leveled his gun and swore
he would kill him II he was the last
niger In the world and was about &c
fire as his wife knocked the gun up,
and 1t was discharged In the air.
The negro and the boys were not
long In getting out of sight, and the
bride succeeded in half dragging her
youthful husband away from the scene
Of conflict and into the swamp ON their
homeward way.
After telling this thrilling adventure
they went ut once to get their wedding
dinner without stopping to change
their wet shoes. In fact. the only
change the groom could have made
would have been to take off his shoes
and go barefoot.
In comparatively short time the
repast was ready II consisted OF q
pone Of corn bread baked In spider
hoecake of -four bread baked In Il
frying pan. some salt razorback bacon,
fried. a pot OF cabbage-the bud of the
cabbage palm tree-boiled and poi
of black coffee served without milk or
sugar.
was the only guest, and as they
had only two table knives the bride
was obliged to use the butcher knife.
Their ten mile walk had given their
good appetites. and they certainly en-
joyed their wedding dinner-no cake.
no pie. no butter, no sugar. no milk,
but happiness supreme.
The bride brought all her husbands
effects home from his mothers house
that afternoon In her apron. She could
have tied them all. except his brogan
shoes, In a pocket handkerchief and
have had good long ends TO tie with
Blessed be nothing"