Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-01-30
Blessed Be
Nothing.
By w. $. CENUNc.
Copyright. 1909. by American Press
Association.


oHo1on09onor@0 os5on0roHe10
Some years ago, while was engaged
In natural history pursuits In one OF
the back counties Of Florida. l was out
hunting one day with young man. a
typical backwoodsman. and we stop
ped at small log cabin for drink OF
water.
A widow and her little girl. about
five years old. lived there. / had met
the lady before. and so presented the
young man TO her.
The widow was II stout. hardy. en-
ergetic woman, probably thirty-five
years old. The young man was near
ly eighteen and was never thirty miles
from home. had never seen n locomo-
tive. steamboat, bicycle. stove, clock or
mirror. Raised In the fiat woods. with
out education, lie could not pick "a"
out Of the alphabet. But to his credit
be 1t said. he had been working for 50
u month to support widowed moth
er. who was IN invalid; crippled
brother and n younger brother and sis
ter. This small amount had supported
this family of five, with the addition
OF 81 month which the county gave
the cripple.
Not an evening passed after the
young man was introduced to the wild
Ow that he was not ut her house. and
In less than two weeks they were en-
gagged.
Then the struggle with fate began
The young man lost his job. 4 mar
riage license would cost 81 He could
not get the price, and they were not
selling marriage licenses on credit.
What was he to do? He struggled
hook or by crook to secure $l.25. Only
Is cents between him and perfect
bliss! But. alas, with the longest pole
he could find he could not reach the
persimmon. He could not, with the
stOiclsm of the fox that could not get
the grapes. dismiss them from his
mind by saying that they were sour.
for he positively knew they were
sweet No; he could only murmur In
bitterness Of heart, "Thou art so near
and yet so far"
Thus several days passed away. The
darkness Of despair seemed to settle
upon him. He became Respondent. 4
haggard. careworn look was on his
face as II he had not slept for n
week. Finally. however. with despera-
lao, a a 30 nxKs
that he possessed. he came to me with
tears IN his eyes and opened his whole
heart.
He told me OF his trials and troubles.
his expectations and disappointments.
his hopes, fears and discouragements.
and then besought me so piteously for
the loan OF the other 70 cents that I
did not have II In my heart to refuse
him.
He had to go Immediately to bis
sweetheart and tell her his good for
tune. He was back In very short
time In an ecstasy Of delight to get me
to write and send for his license TO
the county seat. forty miles away.
wrote and directed the letter and
told him to put the two dollar fee In
It and register II for safety. also
told him that registering and postage
would cost him 10 cents more. Again
his countenance changed from happi-
ness to despair. He had encountered
what was to him another insurmount-
able obstacle. though only the size of
a dime.
Gosh" he cried, what II l do?
hain't got anuther cent. IL yer don't
lend me 10 cents more. I'll hat ter give
It up. I'll pay yer back, I declare to
heaven will!'
gave him the additional dime, and
he started Off In hurry for the post
office. five miles away. to mail and
register his letter. The postmaster
told him that his license ought to be
back at the postotiice by Friday night.
It was then Monday. 1t seemed a
long time to wait, but there was no
help for It.
II was arranged that the bride and
groom should start early Saturday
w thC l'VctpAhNC IVA thC
cense, and ms the postmaster was also Il
notary public he was the only man for
n long distance who could perform the
marriage ceremony. as there were no
preachers In that part OF the country.
except colored man at the turpentine
still, and they were too high toned to
call upon him.
Saturday morning came at last. The
week had seemed like month to this
ardent young lover. He and his lady
were over ut my place bright and ear
~ for my inspection and advice as to
how TO proceed.
The bride was dressed in black
serge skirt and faded silk waist. with
red ribbon around her neck and a
brown sailor hat on her head. She
had to wear brogan shoes. as nearly
half the distance to the postofiice was
through water from shoe to knee deep.
but she took pair Of morocco shoes
and pair of black stockings 10 put
ON before reaching the goal.
When the Young man came to my