A CAROLINA MARRIAGE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3097, 1 June 1881, Page 4

A CAROLINA MARRIAGE.

Soon after the close of the last war Capt. X was appointed a justice of the peace in a country place not far from Raleigh, North Carolina.

His father had been a planter in rather a small way, and his son the captain had acquired considerable experience in the business of managing real estate, drawing up deeds, etc., during the father's lifetime, and then in settling the estate after his decease. Further than this he had no legal knowledge, and, indeed his entire stock of ' book learning' was small and poorly selected, but any lack in general information was made fully up, for his uses by, self-assertion. Late one afternoon, as he was riding home from Raleigh, he met a young woman and two men, who hailed him and inquired if he was Captain X. The young woman and one of the young men wished to be married at once. The other had come as a witness. They had procured the necessary license, but an irate father was on their path, and swore that they should never be married. It was considered on all accounts safest to have the ceremony performed without delay, and try pacification afterwards.

Now tiie Captain had never witnessed a marriage, and naturally had not very clear ideas of what was usual in such eases. He remembered seeing a book about the house year, before with a form for marriage in it, but what tho book was and whero it was he could not remember.

Why, said ho, when he told the story afterwards, 'I knew the Apostles' Creed and Commandments, and at first I thought I'd use them to begin on, but then I reckoned, on the whole, they were too darned solemn.'

He asked the couple to come to his house, secretly hoping that he could find tho book ; hut they declined, for the reason that the matter admitted of no delay.

A less assured man would have been sorely perplexed, but not he. He lost no time in removing his hat, and remarked, ' Hatß off in the presence of the Court.' All being uncovered, lie said, ' I'll swear you in fust off, Hold up your right bands,

'Me too?' asked the friend of the groom. 'Of course,' said tho Captain, ' all wi< :iesscs must be sworn. You and each ■ ;

,T.li solemnly swear that the evidence yu ■ : ball give in this case shall be the truth, tho '010 truth, *?rid nothin' but tho truth, s'holp you God. l r ou, John Marvin, do solemnly swear that to the best of your knowledge and belief you take this yev woman ter have and tor hold for yerself, ver heirs, axekyerfcers, administrators, and assigns, for you and their-use and bciioo! for ever ?'

' I do,' answered the groom. ' you, Alice Kwer, take this yer man for yer husband, ter have and ter hold forever; and you do further swear that you are lawfully seized in fee simple, are free from all encumbrance, and hex good right to sell, bargain, and convey to tho said grantee yerself, yer heirs, administrators, and assigns ?' ' T do,' said the brido rather doubtfully.

' Well,- John,' said the captain, ' that'll be about a dollar'n fifty cents.' ' Arc we married ?' asked the other. 'Not by a (turned eight ye ain't,' quoth the captain, with emphasis, 'but the fee comes in After some fumbling it was produced and banded to tbe court, who examined it to make sure it was all right, and then pocketed it, and continued : ' Know all men by these presents, that I, ?a,ptain X, of Raleigh, North Carolina, being in good health and of sound and disposin' mind, in consideration of a dollar'n fifty cents to mo in hand paid, the receipt whereof is duly acknowledged, do and I, these presents have declared you man and wife during good behaviour, and until otherwise ordered by the court.'

The men put on their hats again, tho young couple, after shaking their benefactor's hand, went on to meet their destiny and tho irate father, while tho capfcisin rode home richer in experience.—Harper's Monthly.