The Voice Of Freedom

Early Times in Indiana.

Said Major Oudesley, as he casually dropped in on us yesterday morning and commenced talking away in his usual chatty, and peculiar manner.

"I'm sick and tired of this artificial way of doing things in these latter days."

"Why so, Major?"

"There is an eternal sight too much pride about every thing that is going on."

"I was at a wedding last night—the daughter of an old and much esteemed friend was to be married, and I was so urgently invited, that I couldn't help going; there was so much fuss and parade that I was perfectly disgusted. I couldn't help comparing the proceedings where a couple was married at Lawrenceburg many years ago, when Indiana formed a part of the great North Western Territory.

At that time the settlements of the emigrants were mostly confined to the rich bottom lands of the water courses. Lawrenceburg was then a small village with a few log cabins.

My father was acting magistrate for the district, and very promptly attended to the various duties of that office, in addition to which he was in the habit of doing a good deal of manual labor on his own hook."

"That was when you wasn't big enough to do much, Major?"

"Exactly, I was a tow-headed brat of some eight or ten years old, when the incident I am about to relate occurred, but I remember all the particulars as well as though it occurred but yesterday. You see it was dinner-time one day in the fall of the year, when the old man being engaged in laying in a supply of wood for the winter, drove up his ox-team with a pretty solid load of fuel.

Just then a young and unsophisticated couple entered the village, hand in hand, inquired for the 'Squire, and were duly directed to the house. The youth was barefoot, and wore a close, but clean, tow linen shirt and pants, and rough straw hat of home manufacture.

His fair companion was dressed in blue striped cotton frock, pink cotton apron, fine bonnet, and coarse brogan shoes without any stockings.

These were their wedding dresses, and their severe simplicity and the thorough independence they manifested, made an impression upon my mind that will never be effaced."

"We come to get married,' said the young man to the old lady, my mother, who was proper busy among the pots and kettles.

"That's very good business,' said the old lady, smiling graciously, 'though you appear to look rather young, but there's the 'Squire, just drove up, he'll 'splice you in' less than no time,' so out she bolted, to give that important functionary due notice of the business in hand.

"I can't stop till I unload this wood,' said the old man; 'tell them to come out here."

And out they came—the old man was on the top of the cart, and every time he threw off a stick he asked them a question. Before he was fairly unloaded, he had the youth's whole story, having ascertained the names, ages and residence of the party, how long he had known the young woman, if he really loved her, was willing to labor honestly to promote her happiness, &c. The youngster gave simple and satisfactory answers to all the questions propounded.

In the meantime, the old lady, perfectly understanding Dad's way of doing things, had sent me out to say to the people that there was a wedding coming off at the house, and by the time the wood was unloaded, quite a crowd had assembled to witness the ceremony.

'Jest jine hands,' said he to the young couple. It was done accordingly

"I'm satisfied with both of ye,' continued he 'you've a perfect right to get married,' and he united 'em in short order.

"As the rafters on this house are jined together, so I jine you—you are man and wife—salute your bride. I don't charge any thing for the operation. Whoa haw, Buck, get along, Bright,' and with an eloquent flourish of his long stick, he started for another load of wood, leaving the newly-wedded pair amid the villagers kissing each other with very distinct and particular evidence of satisfaction.

That was a wedding worth having," said Major Oudesley; "I knew the couple afterwards, and know them yet, for they are both living in a high state of prosperity. And I know their children after them, too, and mighty fine children they are, for one of them is at this very time Governor of the State of Indiana"—Cincinnati News.