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In our younger days, as in my case, many ,
many years ago, when a couple got married, their good? friends would get
together and give them a Shivaree. Maybe this was to honor the newlyweds,
but I think it was really planned for a bunch to have a good time, and
they certainly did. When Densil Fennell wrote the posted note in reference
to his being baptized in the pond with his brother Desmar, I wrote and
asked him if he remembered the second time Des was baptized. He remembered
well.
Desmar married my sister, Rosaline. A Shivaree was carefully
planned in their honor. Honor? Some of the boys decided to take Des to the
pond, put him in a boat, and take him out to the middle of the pond and
dump him in. To this day I cannot imagine anyone devising such a plan,
especially with someone like Desmar Fennell. There shouldn't have been any
doubt in anyone's mind as to what would happen. When they were almost to
their destination, Des turned the boat over and dumped all of them in the
pond. They all got a good baptizing As Densil mentioned, one of them had
on white clothes. He said they looked a lot better before they boarded the
boat.
In my memory I can see grooms pushing their brides down the streets
of Holdenville in a wheelbarrow. One groom I remember {and I hope someone
can remember his name] was chained and padlocked to a porch post at the
Horntown Store. They didn't fool this feller either. He was an expert at
picking locks, and in no time he was free and leaving. Someone saw him
leaving and they all lit out after him. Though he was well overweight, it
didn't affect his running ability none a'tall. He promptly left them in
the dust. Yep, he sorta' got away free and clean.
I know there are a lot of very good Shivaree stories among our
audience. Some, I'm sure would be hilarious. I would love to read some.
Harry Shumard |