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〃I will do it myself；〃 said Lavinia。 So the General retired and the Commodore was sent for。 When he had joined them； Mr。 Barnum began by saying； 〃Commodore； do you know what this little witch has been doing？〃
〃No； I don't；〃 he answered。
〃Well； she has been cutting up the greatest prank you ever heard of。 She almost deserves to be shut up for daring to do it。 Can't you guess what it is？〃
He mused a moment； and then said in a low tone； and looking full at her； 〃Engaged？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Barnum； 〃actually engaged to be married to General Tom Thumb。 Did you ever hear of such a thing？〃
〃Is it so； Lavinia？〃 he asked； earnestly。
〃Yes；〃 said Lavinia； 〃it is really so。〃
The Commodore turned pale； choked a little； and turning on his heel； he said； in a broken voice：
〃I hope you may be happy。〃
As he passed out the door a tear rolled down his cheek。 〃That's pretty hard；〃 said Barnum。
〃Yes it is hard；〃 said Lavinia； 〃and I am very sorry。 Only I couldn't help it。 It was all the fault of your emerald and diamond ring。〃
Half an hour later the Commodore returned to the office and said：
〃Mr。 Barnum do you think it would be right for Miss Warren to marry Charlie Stratton if her mother should object？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 replied Mr。 Barnum。
〃Well； she says she will marry him anyway； that she gives her mother the chance to consent； but if she objects； she will have her way and marry him。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 said Barnum； 〃I will not permit it。 She is engaged to go to Europe with me； and I will not release her if her mother does not consent to her marriage。〃
The Commodore's eyes glistened； and he said： 〃Between you and me； Mr。 Barnum； I don't believe she will consent。〃
But she did； although at first she had objected； thinking that it might be merely a money…making scheme； but after she read Tom Thumb's letter； and heard Mr。 Barnum's assurance that he would release her from her engagement with him； in event of the marriage； she consented。
After the Commodore heard the news Mr。 Barnum said to him：
〃Never mind； Commodore； Minnie Warren is a better match for you anyhow。 She is two years younger than you； and Lavinia is older。〃
But the Commodore replied grandly； 〃Thank you sir； but I would not marry the best woman living。 I don't believe in women。〃
Barnum then suggested that he stand with Minnie； as groom and bridesmaid； but he declined。 A few weeks later； however； he told Barnum that Tom Thumb had asked him to stand with Minnie； and that he was going to do so。
〃And when I asked you； you refused；〃 said Barnum。
〃It was not your business to ask me；〃 said the Commodore pompously； 〃when the proper person asked me； I accepted。〃
The approaching wedding was announced and created an immense excitement。 Lavinia's levees were crowded and she not infrequently sold three hundred dollars' worth of photographs in a day。 The General was engaged to exhibit and his own photograph was largely in demand。 The Museum was so well attended； the daily receipts being nearly three thousand dollars； that Barnum offered them fifteen thousand dollars if they would postpone their wedding for a month and continue the levees。
〃No sir；〃 said the General excitedly； 〃not for fifty thousand dollars。〃
〃Good for you Charlie；〃 said Lavinia； 〃only you should have said one hundred thousand。〃
It was suggested to Barnum to have the wedding take place in the Academy of Music and charge a good admission。
But Barnum refused。
Grace Church； at Broadway and Tenth St。； was the scene of this historic wedding； which occurred at noon of Tuesday； Feb。 10； 1863。 Long before the hour designated the entire neighborhood was thronged by expectant and smiling crowds awaiting the arrival of the happy pair with their attendants； and looking with ill…concealed envy upon the scores of carriages that bore to the scene of action the fortunate possessors of cards of invitation。 At the entrance the ubiquitous Brown was to be seen； bland and smiling； looking more like an honest Alderman of yore than a sexton； and recognizing in each new deposit of youth or beauty or wealth another star to shed lustre upon the extraordinary occasion。
Excellent police arrangements； no less than the self…respect and decorum that always characterizes an American crowd； secured the utmost quiet and order。 The truth was that an outsider could only have discovered the marriage to have been one of peculiar interest from the snatches of feminine gossip that met the ear； in which small…sized adjectives were profusely employed。
The church was crowded with a gay assemblage of ladies and gentlemen； the former appearing in full opera costume； and the latter in dress coats and white neck…cloths。 In front of the altar a platform three feet high covered with Brussels carpet had been erected。 Pending the arrival of the wedding cortege； Mr。 Morgan performed a number of operatic selections on the organ。
At high noon the murmuring of the swarming throng outside and the turning of all heads townward presaged the arrival of the bridal party； its undoubted arrival was announced by the arrival of Barnum himself。
The bridal party quickly entered the church； and proceeding up the middle aisle； took proper positions upon the platform。 Commodore Nutt acting as groomsman； and Miss Minnie Warren as bridesmaid。
After several operatic performances on the organ； the marriage services were commenced； the Rev。 Dr。 Taylor and the Rev。 Junius M。 Willey officiating。 The petite bride was given away by the Rev。 Mr。 Palmer； at the request of her parents。 Dr。 Taylor pronounced the marital benediction； when the party left the church and were rapidly driven to the Metropolitan Hotel； the street； stoops； buildings and windows in the neighborhood of which were crowded with men； women and children。
At 1 o'clock the reception commenced； the bride and groom； attended by the Commodore and Miss Minnie Warren； occupying a dais in one of the front parlors。 The crowd soon resolved into a perfect jam； and for some time great confusion prevailed。 After a time； certain arrangements were made by which the company were enabled to pay their respects to the little couple。
The graceful form of Mrs。 Charles S。 Stratton was shown to advantage in her bridal robe； which was composed of plain white satin； the skirt en traine； being decorated with a flounce of costly point lace； headed by tulle puffings； the berthe to match。 Her hair； slightly waved； was rolled a la Eugenie； and elaborately puffed in noeuds behind； in which the bridal veil was looped： natural orange blossoms breathed their perfume above her brow； and mingled their fragrance with the soft sighs of her gentle bosom。 Roses and japonicas composed a star…shaped bouquet； which she held in her just…bestowed hand。
Her jewels consisted of diamond necklace； bracelets； earrings； and a star…shaped ornament en diadem； with brooch to match。
Mr。 Stratton was attired in a black dress coat and a vest of white corded silk； with an undervest of blue silk。
The Commodore was similarly attired； and Miss Minnie Warren appeared in a white silk skirt； with a white illusion overdress； trimmed half way up the skirt with bouillonnes of the same material； dotted wi