The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-13
covENANTER's MARPIAGE.pAY.

re marriage party were to meet in a
ii'us lonesome dell, well known to all the
dne!lers round StrNary's Loeb. A range
u bright green hilfseoes southwark from
is shores, and between them and the bigh
heatherynountains lies 4 shapeless scene Of
ciits, moss, and pasture, partahing both nj
beauty and grandeur, between which il so
Wualy les. All these cliffs are covered
VITA native birch trees, except Few OF
the loiiiest that shoot up their hare points
n many fantastic forms that moss full Of
what the shepherds call 4" hays" or hollows
worn by The weather, or dug out for fuel,
waves, when the wind goes by, its high
rlch-blossorncd and fragrant heath aud
that pasturaGe, here and there in circular
spots OF emerald verdtre, affords the sweet
est sustenance ~ the sheep to be found a
mong that mountainous region. TWAS in
oneeithese circles ofbeautilul heritage, cal
led by the shepherds, " The Queen Fairy's
tarlor,o that Mark Kerr and Christian
Lindsay, who had been long bctrothe,l
were now to be made man and wife. Il was
nearly surrounded by large masses, or led
5es OF loose rocks, piled to a considerable
height upon each other by some strong
eony1lslon, and all adorncd with the bud
dung and sweet breathing birches, while the
circle was completed by one overshadowing
clh dat sheltered it from the north blast
and Oh whose airy summit the young hawks
were shriily and wildly crying in their nest
The Bridegroom was sitting there with
hls bride, and her bridesmaid; and by and
by, one friend after another appeared below
the natural arch that, adj dropping with wild
flowers, formed the only entrance into this
lonely tabernacle. At last, they al stood
mp IN circle tqgether--shepherds decent
ly Observation-Disclosures all dressed in
ralment bleached whitey than snow in the
waters OF the mountain sprinS, and the grey
headed nnlster OF God, who driven from
his Kirk by blaod-thiIsty persecution, pray
ed and preached iu the wilderness, bapti
zed infants with the wafer of the running
brook and joined in wedlock the hands OF
those whose hearts longed to be united in
those dark and deadly times. Few words
we're uttered by the gcact0us old man but
these few were solemn and full of cheer
impressed upon the hearts of the welded
pair, by tie tseinuous tones of a voice that
was not long for this world, by the sancti.
~ Of his long white locks nnnoved by a
breath of air, and by the fatherly and apps
tolical motion of his Ipitted hand, that
sselned to conduct down upon them who
stood in awe before him the blessing Of that
God who delighted in an humble heart
/ The short ceremony was row closed-and
Mark Kerr and Christian Lindsay were IL
nited, Till death should sundcr them on
earth to reusitc them in heaven.
Greetings were rc!langed- smiles
Went round, with rosy bushes, and mur-
nIring and whispering voices OF irieproach-
able nirth. What though the days were
dark, and the opPrcssJr strong? Here was
place unknown to has feet, ard now was a
natures joy swcllup in all hearts. Sadness
and SORROW oyershadoWedt lIe land but hui
| man life was not yet wholly a whistle and
the sweet sunshine that now illl down
through a screen of ileecy clouds upon the
Queen-Fairy's Parlour, Has it not TO en-
llven and rejoice all their souls? Was il
moi To make their fair bride farcr in hel
husbands eycs--hcr smile brighter,and the
rnglets more yellow as they hung over a
forehead that wore its silken snood 40 lon
ger, bat in its changed covering gracelally
showed that Marion Lindsay was now !.
wife The tabor and the pipe were heard
and footsteps, that left 40 print on the hard
smooth verdant floor, kept time to the me-
r. measures. Perhaps the old man would
have frowhcd on such pastime-perhaps
coYenanters ought not to have INDUCED in
ptomiscuous neutrality-suspicious. it may be
sad to he false that they did so-but the
minister had gone row 10 his own hiding
place. These COyenanters were voting,
anG this occasion was happy one /; and
DANCE they did, most assuredft, wicked as
it I,4y have been, and improper as it ma,
be t. record such Wirkcdnc5s. The young
hawHs were not a llttic alarmed, and an
cid RAM, who happened to put in his twist
ed horns beo" tha arch got fright, that
made him bound backwards out of the en-
chanted circle The hill blackbird won
atrcd but lie himself joined tue dance
upon the birchcn spray-and although not
great songster, he did his best, and chirp-
ed cheerfully his mellow notes in the din
OF the general happiness.
But as the evening hours were advancing,
the party kept dropping away one by one,
or in pairs just as 1t had gathered; and the
Fairy Queen had her parlor all to herself
undisturbed, if she chose. at night 10 hold a
court beneath the lamp ofthe Moon.
Where had the young married pair their
bridal chamber? Mark Kerr had a sheal-
ing on the mountaineering, from which was
just visible one bay Of ST. Mary's Loeh.-
The walls were built Of turf, aud the roof OF
hcather--and surrounded as it was on all
sides by large stones, wooded cliffs, knowes,
and uneven eminepces, it was almost as
likely TO escape notice as the nest ola bird,
or the lair OF a roe. Thther he took his
bride. ller little bridesmaid had small
cover OF her own, distant only Il few roods,
and the friends could see each other stand