A humorous old divine, who had strong feelings on the subject, was in the habit of prefacing the ceremony thus—“My friends,” he would say, “marriage is a blessing to some, a curse to many, and a great risk to all. Now, do you venture?” And no objections being made—“Then let us proceed.”
A clergyman, in marrying a couple, failed at the crucial part of the service to obtain any indication from the bridegroom as to whether he would accept the bride as his helpmeet. After a considerable pause, the bride indignant at the stolidity of her intended husband, pushed down his head with her hand, at the same time ejaculating, “Canna ye boo, ye brute?” That young lady should have been courted by the hero of the next story.
Some time ago a couple went to a clergyman to get united in the bands of wedlock. As the custom is, before pronouncing their doom, the minister asked the bridegroom if he was willing to take the young woman whom he now held by the hand to be his lawful wife. He nodded assent. The bride was then asked the same question.
“No sir,” said she.
“What are your reasons,” asked the worthy divine, “for drawing back after you have come this length?”
“Oh,” replied she, hanging down her head, “I ha’e just ta’en a scunner at him.”
They accordingly went away; but in about a week they returned. When the minister asked her if she now consented to take this man to be her husband,
“Yes, sir,” was the answer.
He then asked the bridegroom if he was willing to take this woman to be his wife.
“No, sir,” he replied.