Year: 1872

husband 1rlenQS, ana some OF tne uelSnDOrs
And now we must go back and say we are
not married, after ALL What disappoint
ment; l never did meet with such disap
pointment in all my life-never."


What could say to comfort such discon
solate ones? 1t was part of my profession tc
administer consolation but l had never
had to do with such mourners before: Was
it not natural that should be silent, as The
rest of the company were, during the next
few minutes? At length bright idea struck
the disappointed lady. Would be so kind
as to go and confer with the registrar? Job
son had not shadsw of doubt that, if the
two men of Importance as he and could bt
brought together, anything would be accom-
pliyhed.'tha was not harder than merely set
ting aside the laws of England. Seeing that
that would console them, felt it my duty tc
go, though knew it was useless; and they
thanked me earnestly, saying they would
never forget my kindness as long as they
lived. On my return, they both asked me,
ever more earnestly:


"Can We marry, sir ?


eyes but"


"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed the lady.


"Wait moment. You interrupt NE,
ma am. You can be married. but not fol
three weeks, am sorry to say. The regis
trar assured me that the Queen herself could
not be married again in this chapel without
his presence, and that he would not attend
a princess's marriage without being consulted
beforehand in the regular way"


"What conceit / wish the Queen were
here, Just to show him she can make him dc
whatever she likes. It's my opinion you can
marry us Just as well without him as with
him. Will you do it, sir?''


''I could go through the ceremony as well
without him; but the marriage would be
illegal.


What of that If it's all right in the
sight of God, what does it matter if it's not
right in the sight of man p


THAT is bold but not wise thing for
a woman to say. A ministerial friend OF
mine married couple of the highest position
in certain town in Lancashire. They went
to Switzerland to spend long honeymoon.
Before they returned the minister received
official information that their marriage was
invalid. owing to some irregularity about the
person who attended to witness and record
the marriage. The registrar was from home
on vacation and had appointed a deputy to
act for him, who, as it turned out was dis
qualified in some way for acting in that capaei-
ty. My friend Immediately informed the
parents of the young couple, who wrote
them to come home instantly and go through
the ceremony again in private If that
young gentleman had been villain, and
wished TO abandon the young lady, he could
have done so, according to the law. If he
had been killed on his way home, and she,
morally but not legally his wife, had become
q mother, and claimed a portion of his ex
tensive property for herself and child, she
could not have obtained farthing by law.
Marriage is civil contrast as well as re-
ligious institution; and of course, has its
advantages in being right in the sight OF
man as well as in the sight of God. There
is another difficulty in the way of my marry
ing you without the registrar. The law
would punish me severely if did it.


II don't want to get you into trouble.
But it is an unfortunate affair, very.
never did meet with such disappointment
I'll not come to a Dissenting chapel to be
married any more


"You quite intend to be married again
ma ann"


lone doesn't know what may happen"


We relasped into silence again, which con
tinued several moments and was painful
Jobson was the first to break it. He sat or
a low stool, with elbow on hiSsknee and hi
face on his hands, absorbed in thought ant
looking intently at the fire. Certain geometri
cal lines visible in the embers enabled hin
to solve the problem of the hour. Looking
up suddenly he said to me:


"Pll tell you what I'll do, sir. -


"What will you do :"


"Tll go this minute to the registrar here
in this town and give notice afresh.


THAT is manly" said l, admiring his
decision ana energy. If you proceed like
that, you will get married"


l walked along the street with him, in
structing him in every particular. Never
did l enter into such details with any on,
before or since. He expressed his gratitude
for my kindness, which he asserted il
a very solemn and emphatic manner shoul(
never he forgotten. He would see me th'
following Sabbath, to let me know the day
and hour. In this he faild, for he did no
appear either that Sunday or the next again


But on the third Monday the sexton called
on me to say that "that wedding" had Il
come off the following morning at 10 o clock
That was an inconvenient hour, as | had al
engagement in Newcastle at noon, and mus
take the eleven O clock train to keepit, which
could not do if there was any delay. Fo
he it understood that the marriage service
is sometimes protracted one in England
and always much longer than in this country
People there would not consider themselve
married at all by the utterance of the two O.
three sentences with which | have seen min
listers here bind loving ones in holy wedlock
urged Mr.. Dickinson to engage some on
else to officiate but he thought the partie
would be in time, and wished me to see tht
end of the extraordinary affair. wished i
too, and accordingly was at my post prompt,
the next day. The gates not having beer
opened, went to the chapel house, and wa
conducted to the kitchen as before. Mr.. Job
son had arrived before me, and was there al
alone in his glory.


"Is Mrs Watkins not coming =


"No; but she ii be here presently, sir


Within FIVE minutes the imposing form o
the registrar made its appearance, passing
the kitchen window slowly and stately. j
ever officer had due appreciation Of hi
station and gave responsibility, it was he
though / may say, to avoid making invidiou
comparisons, that the mark applies to ever,
one in the same Office. 1t is not too mucl
to affirm that more just sense of his i'm
portance, dignity and right even Calcraft
Her Majesty's celebrated executioner, did no
possess on the occasion of his arriving at
Jail where he had business awaiting him (fo
he was late), but could not elbow his wa,
through the crowd to the turkeys door
MAKE way" hs called inpsri0usly to tn