Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-05-29
IN THE BLEAK NORTH
NEWFOUNDLAND LIFE NOT WITH.
OUT ITS HUMoR.
Author Has Collected Instances Show.
ing the Honest Roughness of the
People-comieaI Scene at
Wedding Ceremony.

"Drummers,' often called "janneys,'
journey from house to house like
Christmas waits, in extravagant CO.'S
tune, sometimes wearing models Of
full rigged ships on their heads, writes
Fullerton l.. Waldo, F. R. G. S., in the
Outlook. They cry at the door in a
squeaky voice. ANY janneys in to-
night?" and are then supposed to be
invited in and regaled with rum (or
peppermint water) and cake.
1t was a question of wedding, not
of funeral, when a young man of
Portugal Cove said to a parson:
"Pa'son, would you say a few words
over me?"
Certainly. Where's the young
LADY,"
81 haven't asked her yit, pa But
will. She's right across the road"
So William Thomas rushed across
the road to where the young woman
sat on bowlder; and she answered,
"Of course" in voice that could be
heard all over the district.
Come to me after second lesson"
said the parson, mindful Of his five
obligations to preach in widely scat
tered places that day.
The couple presented themselves.
When the parson asked, who giveth
this woman?' none appeared for that
office. In a front pew sat old man
Gray and old man Welshman. The
former nudged the latter bearded
patriarch. "Shove 'em off! Shove 'em
off," His adjuration met only with
emphatic negative mods. Whereupon
old man Gray valorously stepped into
the breach.
Stumbling up the steps Of the chan.
eel he seized the hands of the con.
tracting parties, Joined them violently
n though coupling cars on the Reid
Newfoundland railway, and said in q
voice of triumph, There, pason!"
The service proceeded till the agi
tated groom was hidden to say, 81
William Thomas, take thee, Maria
Ann" Say | after me-" the parsor
repeated. Still not word from the
panic-stricken groom, whose knees
knocked together, his tongue cleavlng
to the roof of his mouth and his rea
son forsaking him. Then old mar
Gray again leaped into the breach with
a violent clap between his principals
shoulders to remind him of his duty
The parson perforce retired into the
robing room to stifle his sense OF hu
NOR with the sleeve of frayed anC
ancient cassock hanging there. Upor
emerging, old man Gray was heart
volubly apologizing. BEG pardon
Tammas, beg pardon. but ye know
do be tur'ble vigorous!"
What is a parson to do with a won
an who wants her child baptized 40
seph Hyena," except to demonstrate
Woman, that's a brute's name?" Tt
which she firmly rejoins, Husband
when he went down on the Labrador
left me a book wi the name"
Bring the book"
The volume is produced, and a dis
putatious forefinger points to the nam,
In clear print: Josephine"
A local stipendiary magistrate, sit
ting for the first time, hardly kney
what to do with culprit brought be
for him. The S. NJ. owed his prout
title to a term in the island legislator,
at st. Johns, and was without judicia
experience. The lawyer said. You
, honor, l move the prisoner be dis
charged" "You have heard the me
{ tion." said the magistrate. gravely
"All in favor say aye!" Whereupon th
Z prisoner and his lawyer said Aye" II
e a loud voice, and stalked out OF tn
2 courtroom. arm in arm, with none u
'ay them nay.