A MARRIAGE AND A DIVORCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7656, 5 June 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MARRIAGE AND A DIVORCE

At a landing below Baton Rouge about thirty people came aboard the boat. Among them was a likely young woman with whom one of the coloured roustabouts at once fell in lovo. Wo all noticed them making eyes at each other during the afternoon, and finally a gentleman from Illinois said : "I don't see any reason why they should not marry." "But have we a clergyman aboard?" queried another. A third gentleman replied that we had, and lie went off and hunted up a man wearing spectacles and a choker, and informed him that, his services would bo required. The man from Illinois went down to the coloured woman and asked her if she thought the roustabout would make a good husband, and she replied in the affirmative. Jlc went over to the man, and ho owned up that lie wan dead gone. The couple were at once brought upstairs to the cabin, and all the passengers collected. We chipped in a dollar apiece, the clergyman gave his services gratis, and the services went on in good style. After everybody had got through congratulating the happy couple, someone inquired of the groom what he was going to do. " Dat'a what I doan' 'xacf.lv I'now," he replied, a3 he stood with uncovered head. " You have money enough to go to housekeeping in New Orleans ?" " Yes, but do ole woman would hunt me out down dar." "Old woman? Your mother?" "Ho, sah ;my wife ! I'ze got a wife an' fo' chill'en in Vicksburg." At this the bride uttered a yell, the clergyman sank into the nearest chair, and the silence became profound and painful. We had gone and married a married man to a young woman. " 'Twan't my fault,"said the groom, as he jingled our collection in his pocket. "I didn't know nuffin about it," added the bride, as she walked out of the cabin. The preacher add nothing could be done, but the captain took the groom by the ear, and remarked : " John Henry, you can keep the money, but you let that woman alone. If I find you speaking to her, I'll break your back. Move along, now." And that was a Mississippi River marriage and divorce.—'Detroit Free Press.