SOLEMN EXPERIENCES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XXIV, 14 December 1895, Page 760

SOLEMN EXPERIENCES.

SHE HAD HAD ENOUGH TO KNOW ALL, ABOUT MATRIMONY. A MINISTER’S wife who conceived it to be her duty to give a kindly and motherly word of advice to the young couples who came to the parsonage to be married one day went down into the parlour in advance of her husband for the usual little chat with a couple who had called ‘ on important business,’ as they had expressed it. The good woman found the couple sitting side by side on a sofa in bridal array. The bridegroom, who was evidently several years younger than the bride, seemed a little fiustrated, but the bride was perfectly calm. After a few commonplaces the minister’s wife said: ‘ You realize, of course, that marriage is a very solemn thing. It is not to be entered into lightly. It is, or ought to be, for life.’ * Yes, that’s what I used to tell Jim,’ said the bride. ‘Jim ?’ ‘ Oh, he was my first husband.’ ‘ Indeed ! Then, of course, you know what the duties and responsibilities of married life are. They are many and serious. Both husband and wife must learn to bear and forbear.’ * Yes ; that’s exactly what I used to say to Bill.’ * To Bill ?’ ‘ Yes ; he was my second husband.' ‘ Oh. yon must realize deeply the solemnity of marriage because of these experiences.’ ‘Yes; I used to say to Jake that marriage was no laughing matter. Jake was my third busband.’ ‘ Indeed ? My words must seem useless to you after—’ ‘ Well, to tell the honest truth there’s mighty few pointers you kin give a lady whose had three husbands an' all of ’em livin'. If I don’t know what the rocky side o’ matrimony is I don’t know who does. Serious business ! Well, I should say so ! But Willie an’ me are startin’ out right an’ I guess we’ll stick fer good, eh Willie?’ The bridegroom blushed and smiled faintly, and when the miuister entered at that moment the bride arose to her feet and said : * Come on, Willie ; here goes for another solemn experience.’