Saying "Yes."

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 37

Saying "Yes."

A minister's wife tells some fanny stories about young couples who have come to her husband to be married. On one occasion there came a young couple from the country accompanied by several friends. The bridal couple took their places before the minister, and all went well until the bridegroom was asked if he took the young woman to be his lawful wife. There was no response, and the silence had lasted for a few seconds, when the bride said: ' * " He's a little deaf; you'll have' to speak up louder." The minister^ a. grave, dignified manj repeated the question in a much louder, tone. The bridegroom put one hand.to his ear leaned forward, and said in sin equally loud .voice: •■ 4"Hey?" . ■! Then the bride, who had remained selfpossessed through it all, straightened matters out by rising to her tiptoes, putting her white-gloved hands on ithe' bridegroom's shoulder, and her lips to his ear while she screamed: ; ■ '* He says do you want—to —marry—me 1 * " Why, of- course ; what else am I here for?" responded the bridegroom, in a surprised tone. And, although the reply was not quite in form, the ceremony proceeded to the end. Another self-possessed bride once came to the parsonage with a diffident and nervous .'bridegroom. They came alone. While they were waiting for the minister to appear, his wife, sitting in a room adjoining the parlour, heard the young woman speaking words of encouragement to the young man 'and instructing him in the part he was to take in the ceremony. f Now be sure that you don't let yourself get so befuddled as to say ' no' at the place you'd ought to say • yes,' John, for then we'd have to be married all over again, and, like as not, he'd charge double." The double charge was not made, however* for John said "Yes," in a bashful, scared manner, when the time came for him to declare himself.