AGED ROMANCE,

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1938, Page 8

AGED ROMANCE,

UNIQUE WEDDING.

BOTH OVER SEVENTY. "SWALLOWING THE ANCHOR." BRIDE'S 38 DESCENDANTS.. It took 72 years of single life to convinco Mr. Andrew Behersing, retired bachelor, of Auckland, that it was time ho married and settled down. But he put all the discomforts of bachelordom behind him this morning when he led Mrs. Minnie Parsons, 78-year-old widow, of Paparoa, to tho altar at tho Pitt Street Methodist Church, where the Rev. E. W. Haines, M.A., performed the ceremony that made them man and wife. This was, indeed, a wedding with highlights. Tho bride, sweet-faced and definitely self-conscious, was somewhat nervous this morning. Shs had, of course, been through the same ceremony . . . but that was about CO years ago, and one's memory gets a little indistinct on the exact procedure. But she boro up bravely. Bride's Golden Wedding." Born in Vavau, down in the Islands, "a long, long time ago," Mrs. Parsons, as she was before 11 o'clock this morning, came to New Zealand, where she met and married Mr. John Parsons. For 20 years she conducted a boardingliouse at Paparoa, and there, in that very district, she brought up a family of eight—four sons and four daughters. In that district, too, she celebrated her golden wedding with her husband, who died about five years ago. To-day, as a bride, she can say proudly that among her living descendants are four sons, three daughters, 22 grandchildren and 9 great-grand-children. One of her daughters is now dead.

And Mr. Andrew Behersing? He describes himself as a retired bachelor. He has been a farmer and a 6ailor, and belongs to the Dargaville district. Rosycheeked, with ' snow-wliite hair and moustache, neatly dressed and of upright stature, he is full of life and bustle. This morning, of course, he was a little bit flustered. The tic must be in the right place, and where the deuce had those' pearl-grey gloves gone? ; "Swallow the Anchor." He was a little bit shy, too. When congratulated, something of an old nautical training came up as he muttered gruffly that a fellow "must swallow liic anchor" sooner or later. It was understood that he referred to tho necessity of settling down. The bride was attired tastefully in a navy satin beaute ensemble, with accessories and veil to match. She was smart and dapper, and carried a bridal bouquet of autumn leaves, with yellow roses and maiden hair fern.

The bridesmaid for this unique wedding was Miss Phyllis Milner, of Birkenhead, and the bride was given away by Mr. A. Noyce, of Auckland. The two matrons-of-lionour were Mrs. H. Wade, of G, Vincent Street, and Mrs. A. W. Dodds, of Paparoa, both daughters of the bride. The other daughter of tile bride, Mrs. J. Meaney, of Mauna Road, Whangarei, was unable to be present.

Of the four sons of the bride, Messrs. Fred (Glen Murray), Thomas (Gisborne), Jack (Edgeeuinbe) and Henry (Te Kuiti), only Mr. Fred Parsons was able to he present. The, best man was Mr. Tom Greenalgh. All the generations of the bride's descendants were represented.

There was a fair crowd at the church, and the bride and bridegroom came ill for the usual chaffing. The ceremony was, as are all wedding ceremonies, deeply impressive, and the responses given by both parties were clear and strong. The bridegroom leaned closely to the minister for fear that he should fail to hear a single word. Missed First Kiss. It would seem that lie had been well coached in the part he had to perform for he made no mistakes. In the joining o£ the hands and in. the placing of the ring on the bride's finger lie was exactness itself. Nor did he forget in which pocket he had placed the golden emblem of wedlock. It appeared in a flash when it was required.

But the bridegroom's fall was to come. He failed to get the first kiss by a narrow margin. Defeat was not in his nature, however, and he made sure of the next one, despite the .shyness of the bride. The ceremony was over, the register -ivas signed and the blushing bride and bridegroom walked to their car amidst the usual goodnatured banter that is the inevitable .accompaniment of weddings. Mrs. Parsons was now Mrs. Behersing and Mr. Behersing was now that most bashful of creatures—a newly-married man.

The couple then drove to the wedding reception where the usual toasts were honoured. They will leave for the South to-day on their honeymoon and will later decide where they will settle .down.