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Press, Volume X, Issue 1190, 30 August 1866, Page 3

Speech at a Mabbiage Festival.—The following little speech was made in Memphis recently by a bridegroom at the wedding supper-table : —" To-night I shake hands with the past. I live henceforth in future joys. An unknown door is opened wide, and I enter an abode of perfect beatitude. These two persons, whose lives have been well spent, have reared and trained in love and kindness the sharer of my future joys and woee. If my life be blissful, I will owe them much, in that they have imbued the mind of their adopted child with lessons of purity, kindness, truthfulness and love. lam confident of the future. TLe shadow of the present shall fall upon it even when I and my bride have grown old, and invest it with sunset glories. The man who in youth knew some soft soul-subduing air, melts when again he hears it sung. Although it is not half so touching, yet it awakens sweetest echoes in dreamland, and to age it repeats the youthful story of hopes, passions and love. I may not deserve the good I have won. It gives itself, and if not given, no wealth, genius, beauty, state or wit, no gold of earth or gem of heaven, is rich enough to purchase it. Loving thee, my bride, my heart shall keep its old memories like the sea-shell its wonted melody. But away with forebodings on a weddingnight '. Love's music steal* on us like dawning light, which over all the heavens spreads and invests the world with beauty and giory. The road that led on through the unknown future was dark and drearyi but a celestial splendour now lights up the gloom, and the fair bride her spirit-self a Peri at the gates of Paridise, invites mc onward and upward to a life of purest pleasure and duties of beneficence," How soon will Pecksniff be dead ?