The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-11-27
Hayward, of the light lost to the eye--do you

Hayward did, for the first time, understand
the power of womnn's affection; that power
that, like the most perfect work of nature and
art, is never fully manifest till tired by pressure;
and he perceived, too, in Marys humble self 'es-
timation, the modesty that marks true love. Still!
he dared not to indulge the hope her generosity
authorized; he told her he never could ask her
parents TO consgn her TO poverty and misfortune.
"YOu shul not ask Them" she said, "my parents
have taught me that we were not sent ltere to be
idle receivers of Heavens bounty, hut TO and
till the field, even though it he with tears, so
that we may bear our shares reocing-and they
will be true TO their own fah?"
Aud they were. The objections that would
have controlled sorllid mindsdd not affect theirs.
They had the means Of securing their daughter
in any event, from the absolute want, and they
knew that her substantial education would quail
lily her las she proposedD 10 aid Hayward IN
School, or, If that were necessary, that her
knowledge of the arts os domestic life, and hab-
its of frugnlity, would enable her to double the
value of her husbands earnings. Happy must
those parents be, who, 10y practically religious
ducation-that is, by faithfully cutvatng the
faculties Providence has bestowed make their
children as independent of circumstances, as
humanity can be.
The engagement was made, and in due time
came the wedding; TO which, in the true spirit OF
brotherhood, relations, friends and neighhors
were hidden. Not, ms in town, those only OF a
certain set-those TO whom there was a debt OF
civiIity, or from whom Il hope of favor; but they
were the aged people Of the village, the little
remnant that was left of departed generation,
who hailed in Mary Ellison the vidues aud gra-
ces Of her grandmother, and told over the merry
feats of her wedding day. There were the far
mers that 'Jocound drove the team-a field" and
the honest aborers, with lawyers, doctors, mer-
chanls--he modest gentry OF the village who
claimed, and in truth enjoyed no Distinction
There all the girls who had been Niary's
play follows in her childhood, who had grown
up in gentle companionship beside her, and who
now, while their bright eyes were stfusod with
tears, breathed from \he altar OF their hearts,
sisters prayers for her. There were the young
men; among them one was known and ptied
rs faithful lover Of Mary; but he needed not
pity, for in generous admiration of her virtues
and interest in her fate, he forgot himself The
only individual who did not partake the general
joy, was poor young widow, who came be
cause, she said Mary ha, visited her through
many desolate hour, and now 1t would seem
selfish not 10 forget herself long enough to wit
ness Mary's bridal. But, alas who can control
memory's awful power? Its images We're too
vivid for the bereft young creature, and in the
midst of the ceremony she tainted, and was car
ried out.
The two groups TINT most struck my fancy
were FIRST Mnry's humble friends, the dolnesticS
of the family, and the respectable poor of the
village, some coorcd, some white, standing IL
round the door, one head peering above another,
and the knot of children that filed one corner OF
the room, Mary's young sisters and brothers, aud
their little friends, their hands locked together,
or the arm of one thrown over the shoulder OF
another, and all disposed in those graceful atti-
tues that have furnished models for the arts
One little girl, Mary's particular charge aud bed
fellow, had stolen away from the rest, and IN
serting rselfbeweeu the bri,lg e and her brides
maid, buried her pretty fearful face in the folds
e,s Mnry I,t,rsp
the focus Of all eyes, and thought could see
in her face something more than the common
emotions of the hride--the consciousness OF self
devotion To- II high and generous mission. AS to
Hayward Delano, his face was kindled by his
soul; he seemed unconscious of the throng n
round him, and looked as he might if he stood
alone at the altar, receiving gift from heaven.
The ceremony over, there was the customary
kissing, and wishing of Joy. and bountitul dis
pciising of Cake; Mary herself! enrching the por-
ton of the bridal Loaf that fell TO the share of
the domestics and children,b by oestowing it With
her own h0nd.
How pretty that bridal loaf was, wroathed with
evergreen from the neighboring woods, and SUR
mounted by a pair of emblenatc sugar doves
the gift OF some city friend
Such festival is ruled by the law OF love,thc
sociallaw which God has given 10 his creatures.
It's spirit is common TO country weddings, but
can scarcely exist in cities where society IS d.
vidc, into castles, governed by conventional laws,
aud marred by petty passions essentially dlsso-
cial. Can there be a more painful contrast to
the simple rural scene we have described than
henrtIess city wedding; we mean one which Is
characterised by the spirit OF artificial hte Tor our
country bgotry does not exclude the belief that
there are many matches made in Heaven, ratih-
ed at city affairs. Bnt we take for example
wedding where fortune wed fortune, or money
contracts for youth and beauty. Witness the
enger examination OF the Co,beiUe, (the pretty
French basket in which it is the fashion to de-
post and exhibit the presents of the bride,) the
sordid calculation of tho worth of those brides,
where the wealth of one party offers to the vani-
ty of the other Go with the fashionable to the
sat home, see them court the bridesmaids take
All inventory Of their dresses, whisper witty
sarcnsmupon the i'll assorted pair, turn away
and forget them. Is.not all this a proclamation
of Gods most blessed institution?
The band of brotherhood should be strength
ened by all orr intercourse; the links OF that
chain by which Providence has hound us togelh-
er, kept bright by the activity of our social sym
,,pt h :op AMI; q, tha tpn