Beecher_Norwood.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
-nir iermon^
* vif wibh. cL'v^ mje- saamrtiLm^ !
tmAsMi^ifi vkski ht mmA liaTe taken
. 355
something too mucli already. , after scmie
questioning, broke out in a medley of grief
again quite like that in 's presence, but not
so excessive.
" ain't goin' to have no more rum ; it's making
her cry ; and ain't goin' to drink any more rum :
want you to give me somethin'."
was evident that was inquiring after the
temperance pledge, and the at length be-
came satisfied of the fact. , he drew
up a pledge on the largest sheet of paper that he
had in his study ; and thinking that it might be
more striking tp 's simple eyes, he ruled a
band of red ink about the whole, upon which
looked, much as the did upon the
sea when they first reached it. it answered
no purpose. made his mark, and was faith-
ful to his new promise. few tears did more for
him than much exhortation.
the great wedding-day, carried
himseK most becomingly, dividing his attention
during the ceremony between and 's
war-horse. was much disappointed when -
ton, after the ceremony, did not mount and repeat
some of the brilliant feats of horsemanship which
he had seen him perform. supposing that,
for some good reason, had changed his
mind, he led the scarred horse back to his oats.
2 2
"
356 ^OBWOOD;
noon, wh^i all the companr were waB&mkiedf
and eyeiyfaody was mi^iy cbattm^ and ebmlk^gsiBg,
all at once the ehureh-faell broke out nlo die
mriNt musical of inYitatfons. be ssie^ its doty
was* to ring at twelTe everjr day. any one
rrmld tell that ^bere was more than thai in it to-
flay. paternal sool had a weddii^ tiiooglEt in
it. was no measured, doctrinal ling, fit tor
. was noiBaifdl,fiiiieTal ring, thidE and
heary. was a real, out-springing, merry ring,
a?i of a bell that would like to kick [up its heek
and dance on the green with the best of them.
the bell had done ringing, a moTement
was seen about . 's mansicm.
the front door issaed first . and a brother
clergyman, then came . and . ,
and then came and ; (while the boys
that were peeping into the gate nodded to each
other and said, " , jest look at that !
ain't they bnnkum?"); and then came
, and all the other members of the family ;
and after them flocks and crowds of friends.
moved down to the great elm tree, which
hung down its paternal arms about them and
filled all its top with blessings ! , at length,
stood and her husband, under the very
flickering shadows and checkering golden light
that had amused her when a babe.
. 357
prayed, all the birds in the tree-top made
responses and said ! there was a
moment's pause. stood the noble pair.
's side, stood , on one leg
and a crutch. 's side stood -
rngton, **too pretty for anything," said several
young gentlemen near by. , in the simple
forms of the good old times, the ceremony pro-
ceeded; and , at its close, laid his
hands upon their heads, bowed to his touch, and
blessed them they were blessed !
salutation of mere ceremony followed. -
ton turned to with an embrace that seemed
like to have merged her into himself. put
her ajms with full love about her husband.
a second they stood folded, some words they whis-
pered, and there were few dry eyes that looked on
them. wiped his eyes, and
declared that ^ it was remarkably good, positively
affecting, and so unexpected, too."
was but one event that befel the party
which filled them with astojoishment, and that
was the sudden and unexpected decease of
. out of . 's family
even knew that she was ailing, that under a fair
appearance a hidden fire was in her heart, that
would surely ^take away her name from among
those who had so long known it and loved it.
358 ( ; o,
8fae had manifested, while s wedding ser-
rice proceeded, a tremuloosnessy as one con-
weak, but who had determined not to
give way till was married. could
hold out no longer. had leceiTed
the of her own kindred before her
father called her aside and her husband alsoi, and
quite a stir arose and excitement amcmg the
crowd as . , with some dignity and firm-
nesH a if repressing a nervons tremble, approached
,and taking her by the hand, walked
to the very place where and had
been standing, and stood before the excited crowd,
who wondered that even at a wedding
should venture on snch a bold jest !
vfimo forth wight , with
whom had many a night held glorious was-
wiil of theology, discussing till after midnight,
whether sin was bom in the nature of a child or
hcjjrnn only when developed by action; what was
tli(^ nature of generous and right actions anterior
to a saving change ; whether conversion stood in
tli(^ ac^t of choice on the sinner's part, or was an
irroHiHtiblo and efficacious influence exerted upon
him ab extra. these and kindred savory
deliphts they had dissipated many a night
1'hore stood and ,
and made answer to the solemn inteiTOgatories,
. 359
and she gave away her name, and with a blush as
tender and beautiful as if she were just seventeen,
she accepted her bridal kiss from . .
was all artremble. tears
ran down his cheeks. " wonder what
would have given to have seen this day.
guess she thinks that she died too soon. -
somever, she couldn't help it. , well, well
, you've took us in this time. is the
best one yit ! dew say, when saw
a-kissin' you, sort of shivered all over. you
stood it beautiful. no merit, you know, no
merit, cos s'pose you're used to it, eh ? "
, who really looked queenly, replied :
", , my husband never
kissed me before in his life."
" don't, now ! can't hardly b'lieve that.
. is a nice and strict man. courtin',
you know, and engaged, why kissin' is accordin' to
natur' and grace too. kissed a hundred
times afore married her, and you say that
never kissed before ? "
" ; believe he kissed ; but
he never kissed before ! "
quite overthrew the good deacon he
laughed immoderately, and repeated the story to
every one on the ground, as an instance of remark-
able wit.
960 90KW00D; o^
'^Fact is, meant to hmre myself;
wagii't spry eDoogh fired too hi out of town.
get the fast fick among the gals, any-
how. would hare liked it amazin'.'*
^ ?" said , giring him a nndge
with his elbow.
- what?"
- of yon two would been glad for
to marry? "
- goody** said the deacon, aU in a twinkle ;
- ift had been me was marryin' and
had been here, wouldn't she would have had
enough to say ? she would have said ^ my
husband ; ' ^why, stop if *d been here, die'd
a been my wife, and couldn't a married ,
could ? , that's a good one!" said the
deacon, quite exhilarated with his mistake ^which
he endeavoured to explain to several, but some-
how failed to make it as fresh as when it happened
of itsel
seemed to have charge of
, and not to be displeased with the
fair . ( , who had
borne out of , hobbled about as if
he were one of the femily. were stories
about, that he meant to be a member of it one of
these days. a moment's pause, .
turned to her husband.
. 361
" , , if could only have been
spared to see this ! should have been too
happy."
ran down her cheeks. .
stood silent for a moment, and then, with a deep
sigh, replied :
** is here sees all, knows all, and is
happier than all. in us yearns for his
bodily presence, his noble sunny face, his ineffable
smile, the bold, tender eye ; but grace teaches us
to think of him," said , wiping his
eyes, " without sorrow or tears, my dear ; that is,'*
beginning to be conscious of the tears running
down his cheeks, " without any except the tears
of affection and fond memory ^"
rest of his exposition he made to his
pocket-handkerchief.
was grown very feeble. she
was like a winter apple that grows sweeter the
longer it is kept. seemed like an overjoyed
child.
" had a-lived to see this ! married
to , and then married a
minister, too ^that's a'most like gorn' to heaven
think that carried 'round in my arms
the minute she was bom and a sweet child she
was didn't dream should be here and see her
standin' up with ! be shall 'tend
362 kobwood; ,
her babies jest as did her. don't belieye
shall ever live to see them married offl am
getting old ; but somebody will see it hope
they will be kind to them. goes a good
ways, you know. can coax a dog with meat,
you know, when you can't drive h^rn with the
bone."
so the kind old soul went on talking, with-
out caring whether anybody heard or not ^her
own voice seeming to be a comfort to her.
one was joyM ; yet it was a joy strangely
mixed. were some absent who might have
been there, and some dead who would never
return it was a grief that fitted well with
joy, and deepened it. smiled, and smiles
wept.
the evening came on, and .
walked toward the mansion with ,
she said :
** 's presence was wanting to make
the day perfectly happy."
", said her mother, "is very heart-sore,
goes wearily with her. she has deter-
mined to give her life to the instruction of the
poor black children. has gone to ,
where ? parents lived, you know, and hope she
is happier now."
the people are dispersing. sun is just
. 363
setting. linger, and seem reluctant to leave.
you, too, reader, linger and feel reluctant to
leave , shall be rejoiced and repaid for
the long way over which have led you.