A WEDDING IN WYOMING.

Patea Mail, 2 June 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

A WEDDING IN WYOMING.

Camping near the town, we secured our stock and then went in. Entering the leading store, I introduced myself to Mr. Stiles, one of the proprietors and the postmaster. “It is now half-past two, and at three there’s to be a wedding down the street at Jonas Burton’s. Old Jonas is a rough old coon that we elected Justice of the Peace about a month ago, and, as this will be his first attempt at a marriage, I think we will see some fun. Come, and go down with me.”

‘We went to the old Squire’s cabin. We found him poring over a large volume of the Statutes of Wyoming, sweating like a horse, and looking terribly anxious. After greeting us, he said : “ Stiles, the darned galoots that got up these yer laws hadn’t gumption enough to last ’em over night. I’ve irun through the blamed book half a dozen times, an’ can’t find a dod-blasted word about matrimony, or how the hitchin’ process is proceeded with. I’ve just got ter put the clamps on this couple hit or miss, an’ ef I don’t yoke ’em up legal I can’t help it.” “ Oh !” said Stiles, “ just do the best you can. Any kind of a ceremony will do in this country, for people’ll never question the legality of the thing. I’ll post you as well as I can.”

Stiles then explained to him about how he should proceed, and the old man thought he could worry through in tolerable shape. Ere long the couple appeared, followed by a crowd of the citizens of the camp. The candidates stood up before the Squire, who began:— *■ Fellow-citizens, this ’yar man an’ this ’yar woman have appeared before the court to be hitched in the legal bands of wedlock. If any galoot in the mob knows of anything that mout block the game ef tuk to a higher court, let him now toot his bazoo, or else keep his jaw to himself uow and forevermore. All in favour o’ me perceedin’ as orthorised by the law, say ‘ I.” Everybody said “ I.” “ Contrary, ‘ No.’ ” Nobody said “ No.” “ The motion’s carried unanimously, an’ the court rules that thar hain’t nuthin’ to prevent the tryin’ of the case. Grip yer fins.”

The candidates joined hands. “Amos Peabody, do you solemnly swa’ar thet ye’ll freeze to ’Mandy forever an’ ever ? Thet ye’ll love her, an’ pervide fur ’er, an’ treat ’er squar an’ white, accordin’ to the rules an’ regulations sot down to govern sich cases in the laws o’ the United States, so help yer God?”

“ Taas, sir; I do, sir.” “That fixes your end o’ the bargain. ’Mandy Thomas, do you solemnly swa’ar that ye’ll hang on to Amos for all cornin’ time, and that you’ll nuss him in sickness and be squar to him in wellness, that ye’ll always be to him a good, true, honest, up-an’-up wife, under the penalties prescribed by the laws for the punishment of sich offences. Do you swa’ar this, so help yer God?” “ I swa’ar I will.”

“ Then by the power in me vested as Justice o’ the Peace, in an’ fur this precinct, I pronounce you, Amos Peabody, husband, an’ you, ‘Mandy Thomas, wife, an’ legalise ye to remain sich now an’ fureverraore, an’ ye’ll stand committed till the fees an’ costs in the case be paid in full, an’ may God have mercy on your soul an’ bless this union with His heftiest blessin’s.”

The fees and costs were adjusted, and after receiving the congratulations of the assembly, the newly-made husband and wife departed for their cabin up the creek. —Oil City Derrick.