The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-08-23
Prom fhs hisfny of fI.oadondsrry, NM
CUHT,OASs 90 own ANchwrOns.

boui 70 ha united In vSdlssk. u was cnsioaa-
~ for the EspdsmAn. IN eampaay rish thu
father n the lady, or some ons ~ her neapuss
eonhso'ions. IN go 10 the minister 81 the town
and request publishmcpH this. the minister
more usually employed tho clerk ofthe parish
10 pcrfoTm. but sometimes all u himssh In
the meantime, preparations were boing made
fora sumpiuons entertainment. The quests
were all invited three dhys before tho we'd.
Nions. If. ~"' P''-
The bridegroom sclcctrd one NJ his intimate
irirnd. for tho "hcst man" who was 10 ofir.
ate the master of the ceremony, aud the
bride likewise, one Of her companions ~ 'best
mHd.' The morning of the marriAge-dAy
was ushcrcd IN with the discharge NJ nuskci.
~, in the respective ncighhorlools Of tho
persons who wcrc iohc united This prac.
iice il seems originated in Ireland. IN consc-
qucncc or The Calholir, having been. amer tho
Revolution, deprived oi' the use af firearms
Tho Prutcsiauis, pround Of The superior priv.
ilcge thcy then enjoyed, made 4 display Of
ihoir warliko instruments on III public ocrA-
Sous. Seldom was respectable mS~ mArrir-i
without hi' sword 10y hi, side At The aI-
painted hour The groom -rrncccdcl from lis
dwelling with his select friends, mHle and f,-
male, about half way on their progress 10 tho
house Of tho Lrlc. they were met by Lor 80.
lcct male friends nnd on meeting. each com
pany made choice NJ ono of their number ~
"run for tho boiilr"t 10 the brides house. Tho
champion Of the race who rctnrncd firSt With
the bottle, gave toast. drank "a the bride
groomf bcalih, aud having In~Scd ronhd thu
bottle, the whole party prorcedrd. -nluicd b,
the firing of mu~krtr, from the houses they
passed, aud answering these salutcs with pis-
tolls. When arrived NJ the brides residence,
. the bridcrroon's company were placed in an
3 apartment by themselves, hnd Il wns oonsid-
cred nm act Of impoitcncss k,r one of tho
-.l.Eid..'. oopapaa. -isiatrale. -Mhen tho care.
mony was to commence, the "best man" fnt
+ introduced the bridegroom, then, entering
/ The brides apartment, fCf Ter into The room.
aud, placing her at the right band Of Ler "in-
tended" took his station directly behind. "a
did the "bcst maid Tho minister con-
mcnced the marriage ssrVicc with prayer; on
requesting thr PARTIES TO JOIN irHnds,- -v.rhp pvt
/ the right hand behind, whom the glove was
drawn OF 10y tho best mau and maid Thpir
hands being joined, the marriage covenARt
~su sddrcrrod to thCm' with EFPr0FFis'e re
marks on the nature and responsibilities Of
the connection thus formed, Having conclud-
ed NTH another prayer, he requested tho
groom to salute his bride, which being done.
the minister performed the same ceremony.
and was Immediately followed by tho male
part Of the company; the females in like man
ner salutcd the bridegroom, a.
The ceremony being concluded. the whole.
company sat down TO the entertainment. n,
which the best man and maid presided. Soon
after the entertainment. the room was clear
cd for the dance and other amuScments, "And
the evening" remarks our aged informant
kindling at the recollection ofhy-gone scenes
"wns spent with degree ofpleASure Of which
our modern fashionablcs are perfectly igno-
rant"
Funeral OJ'sFrdHces.-T funeral ob.
scrvanccs were ofN character in some re-.
spccts peculiar. When death entered their
community. aud one Of their number was re-
moved, there was at once a cessation Hor all
labor in the neighborhood. Tho people gath
cred together in the house Of mourning. and
during the early periods Of the settlement,
observed cOstom which they had brought
with thcin from ireland, called the awake "or
Watching with the dead from night to night
until the intcrmcnt These night scenes OF
ten exhibited mixture OF seriousness and of
lmmor which appear incompatible. The
Scriptures would be read, prayer offered, aud
words ofromihtt and consolation adninistcr-
ed but ere long, according TO established us
ngc, the glass, with It's cNhllrating beverage,
! MUST circulate freely; so that before tho
dawn the joke and the laugh. if not scenes
more bois,crous, would .brcak in upon the
stunibtfs or TIC ,tca,i.
At the funeral, whatever might have been
the age, the character or condition of The de-
ccased,rho asscmblage would be large Every
relative, however distant the connection must.
surely bc present, or Il would be regarded ~
marked neglect; aud it was expected that
AL the friends audi acquSnianccs OF the de-
ceased, within reasonable distance, would
attend. Although fuacral sermons were sell
dom, if fever, delivered on the occasion, ynt
thcrc would be usually as large congrega.
+ ton as assembled on the Sabbath, Previous
to the prayer sPiFiTwH handed around, not
only to the mournors and bearers, but to tho
whole assembly. Again, affer prayer, and
beforr tire eefEia. zAs removed, the Aama was
done. Nearly all would follow the body 90
the grave, and usually tho greater number
walked. Professions from ttird 70 bait
Inil4 10 lpneth ~sro not nrfreqaAA., Al their
return, the comforting draught was again adj
minis,ercd, and ample cntC inmcnt provid.
cd Many n family herAmn embarrassed, h
not impovcii in consequence Of the heavy
expenses incurred not 30 much by tho sick
ness which preceded tho deaIh Of one Of iss
II.