A Laughable Mistake

A good many years ago in a Vermont country villago, lived two gentlemen who ooked very much alike. One was a minister, and the other a violin player, whose ifts and Rkill at that day were in much equest. "This position of things gave rise to the following " comedy of errors :" As the minister was one day walking ;he street leisurely, a couple of negroes approached him. One of them remarked :o the other : " Dat's him now -I know him, for Is'e seen him often." "Well, speak to him den," says the other. '■ No, Pete, you speak to him." Noticingthat they wished to hold some ntercourse with hiin, the dominie turned round and said : " Do you wish to speak to me " " Yes, sar ; we want to know if you be particularly engaged next Monday evening f" " No, I helieve not," replied Mr. N , the idea of a wedding fee presenting itself, which was not to be slighted on account of the color of the parties. " What is it that you want ?" " We want you, if ynu are 'customed to 'ficiate for colored persons who are willing to pay, next Monday evening, to the red house near the toll gate." " Oh, yes. It's not my practico to refuse anyone on such occasions. At what hour do you wish me to come ?" "Early candle-light, if you please. - We've not had anything of the kind in a good while." " Very well ; I'll be there," replied the dominie ashe turned upon his heel, thinking of the remark that they had had nothing of the kind in a good while, meant that no wedding had transpired among thera in some time. True to his appointment, Dominie N- - ■ was at the house designated in good season. Ths door opened into the principal room of the house, around which sat some twenty or thirty of Africa's sable children, dressed in their very best. According to the instructions they had received from one of their number, they all arose at his entrance. He took a proffered seat, which was behind a little desk at one end of the room, for a moment, and then retnarkod, if the parties were all ready they had better immediately take their places. In a moment all was bustle and confusión. While sotuo removed the chairs from the room, eight couples formed, as if for a quadrille. The dominie stared round in utter amazement, when he who had been spokesnian in engaging him at the village a few days before, coming up to him, his mouth grinning from ear to ear, said : " Massa Fuse, haven't you brought your fiddle with you t We haven't got one here." " Fuae ! Fiddle ! What do you mean ?" exclairaed the dominie, the whole affair beginning to dawn on his already quick mind. " Isn't this to be a wedding '(" " O, no. Massa Fuse ; we would hab the dominie here fust, if we had a wedding." The dominie saw at a glance that he had been sold, and sirnply giviug his name and occupation, which had about the same effect on the darkies as if a bombshell had dropped among them.