Year: 1876

They had been out for long walk.
and as they walked along they called to
mind and lived over again the scenes of
years ago, when on such evenings as
that was they had walked and talked of
the future and what it would bring.


They remembered how beautiful all
things seemed-those courting days,
and talking of them now, brought them
all back fresh to their minds.


They were not whit happier then
than now. and they said so each to the
other that pleasant evening. as they re-
called those days of long ago. Time has
left its imprint upon their faces. and they
are growing oiI~Eaher. Many days
of cloud, and many days of sorrow have
they passed; but as they have wended
their way onward there have been many,
very many, pleasant moments and scenes
connected with them, for all has been
passed together-cach helping the other.


Twilight was deepening. The even
ing lamps was about to be lighted, when
he said mo, we will not light the
lamp this evening. Rather let us sit for
IA while in this twilight hour, and re-
hearse the scenes OF long, oh, SO long
ago" She thought him growing SEN
timental, but silently agreed that so it
should be.


Pleasant scenes, and pleasant theories
| O. - 4
sion. They agreed that they were weary
that on the morrow they had much to
do; and they planned that they would
retire for the night, though it was yet
early.


Tne whole household were fast locked
in the arms of sleep. All was quiet and
still as the tOmb-if we except sounds Of
snoring which came from distant part
of the hOuse-when the doOr-bell pealed
forth its-to those sleepers-unwelcome
sound.


So loud was its sound, and so peremp-
tory that he sprung forth from his couch,
and rapidly prepared TO seek the cause
of the alarm.


His astoni>hment was great when he
learned that there was couple then
waiting at the door to be joined in the
holy bands OF wedlOck.


For years had he been police justice Of
the village. He had been familiar with
life in all its phases He was prepared
for almost any scene. but this. being so
different from what Ee expected, it al
most took his breath away.


He caunot tell even now how lie got
that couple into the house aud seated,
but she says he rusile into the room
with the words, "what shall we dO?''


1t did not take her long to learn what
was tie matter, anu she told him that
she did. not know as she had anything
to do with the business on hand.


He saw that he must ''play the hand
alone" so after running the hair brush
oyer the tangled curls OIL top of his head,
and giving his shirt collar an extra jerk,
he went forth to those in waiting.


His knees knocked together as he
walked. The perspiration stood in cold
drops upon his massive forehead. He
glanced at the couple to be married, and
he was sure he saw four couple instead
of one. With an effort he regained his
compOsure, but language se med to fail
him. Said he:


Get right up where you are" and
they arose.


You are charged with,"-and just
here he saw his mistake Thinking to
recover soon enough to prevent the dis
covcry by the bride and groom he quick
ly said:


"Gui'ty or not guilty ~ and the drops
of perspiratiOn formed i'm small streams
cOursed their way adown his flushed
cheek as he saw that he was altogether
wrong i'm his fOrmula-that he had made
another mistake. CHANGING around it
seemed to him then as if the room was
full of people that wanted to be mar
ried.


just here, an audible smile on the part
of the groom seemed te arouse him to a
sense of the ludicrous position he was i'm.
Taking an instant TO recover, and gasp
ing for breath, he said, ssjoin hands,"
This seemed to give him little conf
dence, and he went OH and finished the
job; though to this minute he cannot
tell exactly how it was done, on,y he dis
tinctly remembers pronouncing them
man and wife.


The Improvement Association.


The regular meeting of the Improve
ment aSSOciation taknc pIaoa at Cuanv,c