Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-22
A WEIGH WEDDING.

The ancient festivities connected with
marriage are still retained in the rural parts
of Wales. When the day for that cere-
mony has been fixed, bidding papers" are
dispatched to all friends within possible dis
tance. The Squire generally finds one laid
on his table, and responds to the pecunlary
part of the invitation. The following IS q
specimen of one Of these papers:
"CARMARTHENsHIRE,N Nov. 18th, 1850.
As we intend to enter the Matrimonial
Stale on Wednesday,the 4th day of Decem-
Der next, we are encouraged by our friends
to make Bidding on the occasion, the
same day, at the young woman's brothers
house, at which time and place the favor
of your very>good and most agreeable COM
pany is respectfully solicited and whatev-
er donation you may please to bestow on
US then, will be thankfully received, warm
ly acknowledged, and cheerfully repaid,
whenever called for OH similar occasion.
BY your most obedient servants,
DAVID PRICE,
ELIZABETH JONES"
"The Young Man with his Brother and
Sister, Orchard and Mary Price) desire
that all gifts of the above nature due to
them be returned to the Young Woman on
the above day, and will be thankful, ,togeth-
er with his Uncle, and Brothers-in-law and
Sisters, and their Wives, for all additional
favors.
"The Yonng Woman and her Sister, Anne
Jones,) desire that all gifts of the above ma
ture due to them be returned TO the Young
Woman on the above day, and will be
thankful, together with her Brothers and
Sisters-in-law, and her Uncles and Aunts,
for all fayors granted"
As soon as the heroine of the day makes
her appearance in bridal array, among the
assembled guests al her fathers house, her
friends proceed to hide her in the most
unattainable place possible. Should the
dwelling not afford such accommodation,
the cow-house and stables are invaded, or
even neighbor's domicil. When hidden,
notice is given to the bridegroom's chosen
representatives, who are four or FIVE in
number they advance to the door, and de-
mand the fair prize from her father. The
brides chosen spokesmen reply to those
outside. All the stock of wit possessed by
either party is exchanged, amidst general
hilarity, until the claimants are admitted to
seek the lost one. Sometimes she is so
hopelessly concealed, that time creeps most
alarmingly near twelve. When matters as
sumo this serious aspect, some kind friend
is found TO act as guide, and she is found
amid universal acclamation. The brides
perils are by no means over, for instead of
going quietly to church, where the BRIDE
groom has been waiting, his delegates make
an attack upon her appointed bodyguard.
The poor girl often gets rough handling,
between the The cambataats and, should the
opposing one be victorious, she Is eeaafiff|ea zee
off to some place Of concealment, until a.
gain rescued. When at last,the lady reach
es the church gate, her betrothed comes
forward, attended by two girls, determined
apparently, to make the most OF his last
minutes. He then, having shaken hands
with his future father-in-law, receives and
conducts his bride to the alter.
The instant the ceremony is over and the
names registered, furious scene of racing
commences-very dangerous at "horse
wedding" The Aeetest courier wins the
pint of ale awarded to the bearer ofthe first
intelligence from church to those at home.
On the arrival of the new couple. they
are seated at table, each holding plate
for the reception Of bidding money!" and
beside them friend with a little book, IN
which are entered the names ofthe lenders,
and the amount-for the promise to return,
IN kind, is taken au pied dc Ia letira. The
debt is strictly one Of honor, and if not re-
paid on the marriage OF the creditor. is sure
to be demanded. The ceremony over, the
bride retires to change her dress-or make
some alterations in ,t-and, on her return,
attends upon her guests. A table is laid
out with very simple cold collation.
bread, cheese, and butter-of which all par
take who choose. This may seem but
poor hospitality, especially when we add
that the beer and ale are sold to the guests;
but any reader who knows the poverty of
the Welsh peasantry, and their simple hab-
it's will find excuse sufficient. The beer is
supplied by the young woman's father, and
the profits from part of her dover.
Drinking is kept up until a late hour, a.
mid singing and music. Welch uocal mel
odies are generally rather dismal. Few
get beyond the psalms, which are pretty e.
nough, set to Arhyd-y-nos, Sc. but nation
al psalmody partakes very much of the
cow-killing tune of general notoriety. Dan
cling is often indulged in. When the bride
retires to rest, if wary woman, she inves-
tigates the arrangements of her bedroom,
for her friends consider it their duty to con-
cludc TIE arrangements with practical
joke. -.
A melancholy catastrophe is said to have
been the result of one of these practical
Jokes. On the afternoon of { wedding day,
what was supposed to have been dead VI
per was put into the brides bed. Her hus,
band, on joining her, found her a corpse
The viper lay in her bosom, with the head
elevated to her mouth. She had not been
stung, but had died, it is thought, from
Household Words.
THE PAwNBRoKER's HARvEsT.---- A
Welsh paper asserts that 10000 watches
have been pawned and sold in Wales, for
the purpose of finding funds to pay the ex-
penses of journey to and from London to
see the great Exhibition. In SONG cases
even beds have been disposed of.