Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-25
by Permission of HEARsTs MAGAzINE)

that somebody else was speaking.
It was Father Dan. He mad risen IMAM.
nounced from his seat at the end of the
table. l saw mis- sack coat which was
much worn at the seams; I saw his round
face which was flushed; heard the vibrat-
ing note in his soft Irish voice which told
me he was deeply moved; and then I
dropped my head, for 1 knew what was
coming.
"Mr O'Neill," said Father Dan, may
your parish priest take the liberty Of
speaking without being spoken to-"
My father made some response, and then
hush fell over the dining room.
we have heard a great deal about the
marriage we have celebrated to-day; but
have We not forgotten something? What
is marriage! Is it the execution of con-
tract? Is it the signing of register? Is
1t even the taking of an oath before an
altar! No. Marriage is the sacred cove
nant which two souls make with each
other, the woman with the man, the man
with the woman, when she chooses him
from all other men, when he chooses her
from all other women, to belong to each
other for ever, so that no misfortune, no
storm Of life, no sin on either side shall
ever put them apart. That's what mar
riage is, and all we have been doing to-day
is to call on God and man to bear witness
to that holy bond.
Mr. ONeill, SIR cried Father Dan
raising his trembling voice, "you say your
daughter has big fortune and her hus-
band has a big name, and what more Do
they want in this world? I'll tell you what
they want, sir. They want love, love on
both sides, if they are to be good and
happy, and if they've got that they've got
something which neither wealth nor rams
can buy"
l had dropped my head again, but under
my eyelashes I could see that the company
was sitting spellbound. Only my husband
was shutting in his seat, and the Bishop
was plucking at his gold chain.
MY Bishop" said Father Dan. "has
told of US of the submission a wife owes
to her husband, and of her duty to be love-
ly and wise and faithful in his eyes. But
isn't it the answering thought that the
husband on his part owes something to
the wife? Aren't we told that he shall
put away everything and everybody for her
sake, and cleave to her and cling to her
and they shall be one flesh? Isn't that
too, divine commandment"
My heart was throbbing so loudly by this
time that the next words were lost to me-
When l came to myself again Father Jan
was saying, Think what marriage means
to a Woman-a young girl especially
means the breaking of old ties the pe'
ginning of a new life, the setting out mo
an unknown world on a voyage !rom
which there can be no return. In le'
weakness and her helplessness she leaves
one dependency for another, the shelter Oh
father for the shelter of a husband Nlas
does she bring to the man she marrles'
Herself, everything she is everything sue
can be, to be made or marred by hlIL aLu
never, never, never to be the same % any
other man whatsoever as long as life shaH
last"
More than ever now, but for other rea'
sons, l wanted to fly from the room. 81.
Friends" cried Father Dan, we don't
know much Of the bridegroom IA [1s s
parish, but We know the bride. We've
known her all her life. We know Wn@
she is. l do, anyway. If you are a"
father, Mr.. O'Neill sir, 1 am her IaCHe.
Also l was in this house when she was
born. I baptized her. 1 took her out u
the arms of the angel who bore her
His voice was breaking-I was sooolns
though he was speaking so loudy =,
could scarcely hear him-I could sca'cyg
see him-I only knew that he was 'd' ;ns
about in our direction and raising liz
trembling hand to my husband .,
She is my child, too, l say, ana NV NV,
that she is leaving us, now that you ",p
taking her away from us, / charge ~
my lord, to be good and faithful 10 uet
to guard her and protect her and De I 10,
to her. as you will have to answer iol ~
soul some day." ..rb.
The complete instruments OF - bich
Woman Thou Gavest Me-" from now
these excerpts have been taken, mr., NJ
being published In HEARST'S MA"N