The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-03-05

Every year at the feast Of St. Peter, which
comes in the latter days Of june. the peas,
antry OF tie district OF Bihar meet together
at certain place for the pursuance Of a gen
cral fair This fair has very peculiar in-
terest for the young men and the young
maidcns, for it is there that, while purchas.
Ing household utensils and family necessa.
rics, they choose for themselves partners.
and conclude marriages. The parents bring
in their marriageable daughters, with each
one her little dover accompanying her, load.
cd up IN small cart. This dover is, Of
course, proporlionatc to the lowly condition
OF these mountaineers-so sheep, some.
times few hogs, or even chickens. The
girls are attired in their best, or what pieces
Of gold and silver they may possess arc
strung upon string and neatly attached to
braids Of their hair.
Thus fitted out, every girl who desires to
find Il husband, botakos herself to the fair
She quits The house OF her father, perhaps
forever and bids her mother adieu, quite
ignorant Of what roof is to shelter her, what
fate awaits her at her journeys end. As to
her fortune, il is in the little cart that attends
her. The object Of her journey is never
mistaken, nobody wonders at il, nor is there
any occasion FOR public officer TO make
record of the deed. On the other hand. the
youths who wish to procure for themselves
wives, hasten to the fair, ariaycd in the
very best skin garments hcir chest contains.
These sayasclookiu- chaps, who would be
quite enough to make our young ladies run
and hide themselves, proceed with a good
deal Of interest and zeal to inspect the fair
mountain lassos that arc brought ththcr by
their fathers and their uncles, casting many
s.dc glanccs and wishiul looks towards the
captivating merchandise. lie gives his fan
cy free rein, and when he finds one that
seems TO claim his preference, he at once adj
dresses the parents, asks wha; they have Civ
en- her, and what price they have set up-
on the d" lot" so exposed for salc-at the
same time stating his own property and stand
ing. If the parents ask too much, these gal
liant boys make their 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 lop-eye" open to the
correspondence Of loycliness upon one hand
and the size Of the dover on the other. At
last he finds one 70, whom he is willing to
give the price, and loud clapping of the
hands together announces to the bysiandcrs
that the bargain is completed. What a
heavy blow this must be for some lazy rival,
who has not decided quick enough, who is
hating and considering whether she is as
lovely and accomplished in household mat
tiers as some others. However, the deeG is
done and the bargain completed, and forth
with the young girl (poor gill y proceeds al
so to clasp the hand Of her future husband.
What moment Of interest and anxiety to
her The destiny 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,
and consent to partake Of your joys and
your troubles, TO follow you through veal
and through woe I"
The families Of the betrothcd pair then
surround them, offering their congratulations,
and at once, without delay, the priest who is
on the ground Tor the occasion pronounces
the nuplial benediclion. The young woman
/ presses the parting hand of the family who
have reared her, but OF which she is no long
er part-mounis the cart of her new hus-
band, whom but few hours before she news
ef so much as knew, and escorted bv her
droyer, is conducted to the house lhcncefor-
ward to be her home.
The Hungarian government have long
tried, but in vain, to suppress these fairs for
young girls. Positive orders have been Civ.
en- that they should no longer take place,
but such is the force of long established GUS
tom, united 10 the necessities of this pastoral
race, that al such orders have been d.re-