of only two,
besides the bride and bridegroom, and everything was conducted with such
quietness, and gravity, and absence of excitement, that it might almost
have been mistaken for a funeral on a small scale by any one
unacquainted with the ceremonial appertaining thereto.

The happy pair, besides looking very sad, were past the meridian of
life. Both were plainly dressed, and each appeared desirous of avoiding
observation. The man, in particular, hung his head and moved awkwardly,
as if begging forgiveness generally for presuming to appear in the
character of a bridegroom. His countenance had evidently never been
handsome, but there was a sad subdued look about it--the result,
perhaps, of prolonged suffering--which prevented it from being
repulsive. He looked somewhat like an invalid, yet his powerful frame
and the action of his strong muscular hands were not in keeping with
that idea.

The bride, although careworn and middle-aged, possessed a singularly
sweet and attractive countenance--all the more attractive that it wore a
habitual expression of sadness. It was a sympathetic face, too, because
it was the index to a loving, sympathetic, Christian soul, and its
ever-varying indications of feeling, lightened and subdued and modified,
but never quite removed, the sadness.

The two who composed the remainder of this wedding party were young men,
apparently in a higher position of life than the principals. The one
was tall and strapping, the other rather small, but remarkably active
and handsome. It was evident that they were deeply interested in the
ceremony in which they took part, and the smaller of the two appeared to
enjoy some humorous reminiscences occasionally, to judge from the
expression of his face when his glance chanced to meet that of his tall
friend.

As they were leaving the altar, the bridegroom bent down and murmured in
a deep soft voice--

"It's like a dream, Martha. It ain't easy to believe that such good
luck should come to the likes o' me."

The bride whispered something in reply, which was inaudible to those who
followed.

"Yes, Martha, yes," returned the bridegroom; "no doubt it is as you put
it. But after all, there's only one of His sayin's that has gone right
home to me. I've got it by heart _now_--`I came not to call the
righteous, but _sinners_ to repentance.' 'Twould have bin all up with
me long ago but for that, Martha."

They reached the door at this point, got into a