Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-01-13
Market for selling Young Women In
Hungary. -t....-r ....

Every year, al the feast of St. Peter,
which comes on in The latter days of June,
the peasanIry ofthe district Of Bhar, meet
Together at certain place, for the purpose
Of a general fair. This fair has peculiar
interest for the young men and the young
maidens, for it is there that, whilst pur.
chasing household utensils, and family
necessaries, they choose. for themselves
partners, and conclude marriages. The
parents bring their marringeable daughters,
with each one her Iit,le dover accompa.
ming her, loaded up in small cart This
dover, is of course, proportionate TO the
lowly condition OF these mountai.Ieers-
some sheep. sometimes few hogs,or even
chickens. These girls are attired in their
best, or what pieces of gold or silver they
may passes are strung upon string and
neatly attached to the braids Of their nnir.
Thus fitted out, every girl who desires
to find husband betakes herself 10 the
fair. She quits the house of her father,
perhaps forever, and bids her mother adieu,
quite ignorant what roof is to shelter her,
or what fate awaits her at her journeys
end. AS to her. fortune it is in tho little
cart that attends her. The object of her
journey is never mistaken, nobody wonders
nj it, nor is there any occasion Cor a pub.
lie officer to make record Of the deed. On
the other hand, the youths who wish to
procure themselves wives hasten to the
fair arrayed in the very bes. skin garments
their chest contains. These savage look.
ing chaps, who would be quite enough to
make our young ladies run and hide lhem.
selves, proceed with good deal of inter-
est and zest to inspect the fair mountain
lasses that are brought thilher by their
fathers and their uncles, casting many
side glances and wishfuI looks toward the
captive merchandise. He gives his fancy
a free rein, and when he finds one that
seems to claim his preference, he at once
addresses the parents, asks what they have
given her, and asks what price they have
set upon the 'lot' 81 exposed for sale-at
the same time stating his own property
and standing. If the parents ask too
much, these gallant boys make their own
offer, which if it does not suit the other to
agree to, the fond lover passes TO seek
some other.
We may suppose that the proud young
men always keep a top eye open to the
correspondence Of loveliness upon one hand,
and the size of the dover on the other.-
At last he finds one for whom he is willing
to give the price, and loud clipping oil
the hands together announces to the by.
standers that the bargain is complete
What heavy blow this mast be for some
lazy rival who has not decided quick
enough, who is halling and considering
whether she will suit him, and whether she
is as lovely and accomplished in household
matters as are some of the others. How.
ever, the deed is done and the bargain is
completed. and forthwith the young girl,
[poor girl. proceeds also to clasp the hand
Of her frture husband. What moment
of interest and anxiety TO her! The de>-
tiny Of her life is sealed by this rude clasp
of the hand. In this she as much as says,
yes, will be yours for life. ana | consent
to pnrtake of your joys and your troubles,
to follow you through veal and through
wo. r-.s H.at
The families of the betrothed pair then
surround them. offering their cengratula.
tions, and at once, without delay, the priest
who is on the ground for the occasion, pro-
nouncss the nuptial benediction The
young woman presses the parting hand Of
| the family who have reared her, but ol
which she is no longer a. part-mounts the
cart Of the neW husband, whom but q few
hours before she never so much as knew,
a r -4-.H