Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1918 — MERELY PART OF CEREMONY [ARTICLE]

MERELY PART OF CEREMONY

Parson Had Done What He Could, Considering the Amount of Fee Coming to Him. Two darkies were suing for divorce. It was necessary for the old parson who had married them to testify. He appeared and this colloquy ensued: Judge—Nigger, what’s your name? Parson —William Lewis, C. W. B. M., yoh honah. Judge—Do you know this couple? Parson —Yas, suh, I do. Judge—Did you marry them? Parson —No, suh! Judge—Didn’t marry ’em? Why, they have proof you did. Parson —Mebbe so, boss, but yo’ see it, was lak dls. Dat yaller nigger come to me an’ said he’d gib me $2 to marry him. I sez “All right,” and he went and got dat ole woman and brung her to de church. Just befo’ de ceremony he ’low as how he ain’t got but six bits to gib me. Boss, I couldn’t puhform no reg’lar ceremony lak dat for a measly six bits, so I read de Christian Endeavor- pledge obey dem and turned dem loose. — News.