Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1909 — AND THE FIRST SHALL BE THE LAST [ARTICLE]

AND THE FIRST SHALL BE THE LAST

I was at work on my Sunday sermon when my wife opened the door. She was laughing. ' “There’s a young fellow downstairs Who. says he wishes to see you about marrying him.’’ ‘ I didn’t like to break off from the thread of my discourse, but, laying, down my pen, I went into the parlor. There stood the youngßter, six feet In height, strong as Samson, light haired, blue eyed, red ,and brown complexion, shocky hair. His trousers were in his boots and were supported by a pair of country store galluses over a woolen shirt; no coat; a felt hat In his hand. "Be you the parson?" he asked. “I am.” “Say, parson, if I Agger roun’ today an’ git things fixed, could i' come up here .’long with a gal an’ git married?" “Certainly. I shall be here all the morning. I have some parochial duties for the afternoon, but if I knew the hour you would be here I would*be on hand.’’ ain’t done it all yet. I'done it except one thing. I got my license. -That's all ready. I got it more’n a week ago." “That’s the only really important matter,” I replied to help him on. “‘N you got a certificate haln’t yOU?” ■ 7 “Lots of them, in blank.” “Well, that’s twq thlngß—the certificate and the license.” “You’re right; that’s two very important things, one indispensable and the other convenient.”- .i *“N here’s a place to get married in.” “Has your fiancee got her trousseau?” “What’s them?”. “The first means sweetheart, the second the clothes brides usually get together- bo they won’t have to call on their husbands for some time after the wedding for such articles.” He stood thinking for a moment, then looked up and said with animation: “By cracky,' parson, that’s a good idea. Never thought o’ that.” “Has she got it?” “Oh, I don’t know nothin’ ’bout that. ’Twouldn’t be fust rate for me to talk about that. ’Twould be dead mean cheap.”, “There are more important things for the man to say, I grant, and more becoming.” “What are they?" “Well, the first thing is the proposal." “That’s just the trouble with the whole business.” “Did you find It difficult?” “Difficult? You bet. 1 hain’t got through with it yet." “Phew!” I looked at my wife. She sat behind the young man and was tramming her handkerchief into her mouth to stop an outburst of laughter. My explanation was made under my breath, but the youth saw it. “Just you hold on, parson," he said. “I’m good for it yet. Just gimme time. But I’d rather drive my ox team up a stone wall, I would. She’s in town today. I seen her in a . store buyin’ some stockiri's. That’s why I come up here.” “Don’t you think you’d have better settled the matter' with the girl first?” “Well,” he frowned, different ways of doin’ things. Es I’d asked her and she’d said ‘yes,’ what in thunder would I ‘a’ done with nothin' fixed?”

“Are you sure you have the pluck 92 “Now, parson, don't you worry ’bout that I’m going right off to find her. You’ll be here when I get back, will you?’’ “I’d stay in all day to marry such a fine fellow as you. Go ahead. Remember what General Grant said when he first marched <a brigade against the Confederates.” “What'd he say?” “That he remembered the enemy would likely be aB much frightened as he.” “Oh, she won’t be frightened. Gals don’t skeer worth a cent.” He grabbed his whip and in a jiffy was out of the house and striding down the street I went back to my sermon and wrote for an hour when my wife threw open my study door, exclaiming: “They’re coming!” “Who?” I asked, not so readily turned from my subject. “The young ox driver and hi* girl. Come.’’ "I went downstairs, and there In the parlor were the pair. They had just come in. The man looked as if he were In a battle and was looking tor an enemy and an enemy was looking for him. The girl, a little country beauty, was all smiles and blushes, with struggling tears. “I done It. parson,” said the ox driver proudly. “So I perceive.” , My wife stood them up before the mantel and had more trouble to get them placed properly side by side than a pair of skittish horses. Then 1 married them. My wife gave the bride a kiss which opened her heart and her lips as well, for she told all about it. Bhe had loved him a loan but, although she had often Cried hard, she* could never infnae courage enough In Ehtt to induce him to propose. Which JP*s to prove that when he said “pals don’t skeer worth a cent,” he was right.—Elbert G. Bentley.

ington pieces met the disapproval of Washington but thte general features of some of the reverse designs of the coins bearing his portrait wens adopted. Some of the early gold and silver coins bore a design similar to that of lie socalled half dollar. The reverse of Ike Washington cent dated 1783 showed a wreath enclosing the words “One Cent,” surrounded by “United States of America,” and belowe "1-100.” The obverse of this coin bore the misspelled inscription, “Unity States of America.” This fact, coupled with Its general design, has led the piece to be credited to a French engraver, and some authorities do not even regard It as having been issued as a pattern cent but believe it was Btruck in Paris in 1783 by some enthusiastic admirer of Washington, and it is referred to as a medalet Yet thfs same reverse design was copied almost exactly upon the first United States cents issued at the Mint, and in slightly modified form, but with the general features always retained, has done service on the majority of the cent pieces ever since.—New York Sun.