Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-10-02

consent tlat Tie uoOr should De OIleHeu'
On this being arranged, the fuxdresser
Instantly drew the wooden spigOt which
fastened the door on the inside--the Only
fastening known in most of the dwellings IN
our village--and the bridcgroom's band
rushed in, but not without combat; for tue
lads who gurrisoned the place, even the old
! fluxdrcsser and the ancient yillnge danes,
considered il their duty to defend the hearth.
| The invaders were armed with goose stuck
upon large iron spit, adorned with bouquets
OF straw aud ribbons aud to plant this at the
| fire was to gain possession Of the hcurili.--
| Every effort was of course nInde TO attain
this object. Now came a veriiable battle al
though the cOnbatunts did not come to ac-
tuul blows, aud fought without any anger or
ill.will. but they pressed aud pushed one
another 70 closely, aud there was 50 much
emulation ia the display of muscular power,
I TINT the results might have been more seri-
ous than they appeared amidst tie singing
aud laughter. The poor old flnXdresser,
who fought like n lion was pinned to the
wall, aud squeezed until hc could hardly get
breath. More than one hero was rolled IN
the dust, more than Que hand wHs Withdrawn
bleeding from an attack on the spit. These
sports ure dangerous, aud in consequence of
the occurrence Of serious accidents, our
peasants have resolved to drop them. The
enormous iron spit was twisted like n screw
before it was at length flung across the fire
irons, md the conquest achieved.
There was now no lack of talk and laugh
ter. Each one exhibited the wounds he Ind
received; but MS they were in many cases
given 10y the hand of n friend, nobody com
| planned. The matrons cleaned the stone
floor, and order was re-estubshed. The
table was covered with pitchers Of new wine.
a A..
their glasses, and had taken breath, the
bridegroom was led into the middle Of the
room; aud furnished with n ring, he had to
| undergo new trial.
| During the contest, the bride had been
concealed, with three Of her companions,
10y her mother her god-moiher, aud her
| aunts, who had seated the four young girls
ON bench, IN n corner of the room, and
covered them with n large white cloth. Tho
three girls had been selected of the same
height as Marie; aud this cloth yelling them
from head TO foot, il was impossible to dis
tinguish one FROM another The bridegroom
was only allowed to touch them with the
end OF his switch, to point out which lie
guessed to be his bride. II wrong, hc could
not dance with the latter that evening, but
only with the Que he had selected in error.
The party then separated, to rcassenble |
~ NiEih " NlOCh Alit ufAl ~ ulc ]
appointed lime, after breakfast OF milt-soup,
well pcppered To stimulate the appeliie-lor (
the nupiial-lenst promised to be rich one
all assembled in the iarlnyurd. A journey
OF several miles had To he performed TO OH |
tain the nuplial benediciion. Gernain
mounted the gray mnre, which had been new ,
shod and decked with ribbons Tor the occa- |
sion; the bride rode behind him; whilst his !
brother-in-law, jacques, was mounted OH
the old grny, with his grandmother. The .
joyous culyucudc set out, escorted by the
children on foot, who kept firing pistols aud
making the horses start. Mrs. Maurice, the
mother, seated with the children aud the
village iiddlers in II cart, opened the process
sion to the sound of the lille baud OF music.
Al the ceremony Of the o0rdnde, Gernuin,
according TO custom, placed the tei=diRe-
that is to say, thirteen pieces of sNer--in
the hand OF his bride, aud slipped on her
finger silver ring of peculiar form, which
had existed unchanged Tor ages, but which
has now been replaced by the alliance dor
We now come to the third aud most GU
rious day of the nuptials, which is is still
strictly observed. As the cerlnony OF tho
hverees is The symbol of taking possession of
the heart and home of the bride, that OF the
chou Is the type of the iecuudily of marriage.
Alter breakfast the next morning, this per-
formance commemorate custom OF ancient
Gnlic origin, which became gradually sort
OF mystery or morality of the middle ages
Two lads disappear during the breakfast, go
aud dress themselves up, aud then return,
accompanied ly music, dogs children, and /
firing OF pistols. They represent II couple of
beggars-husband and wie-covered with |
rngs; they are called the gardiner aud his !
wife (ie jdrdinier aud la jdrdiniere, aud give !
tint they huvR tln rltrpn n,I ..,,i,,
walton of the sacred cabbage. The mans
face is bedaubed with SCOT aud wine-lees, or
sometimes covered with grotesqe musk. |
broken pot or an old shoe, suspended to
his helt with string, serves him to beg Tor |
and collect the offerings of wine. No one !
refuses; aud he pretends To drink, aud then
pours the wine Oh the ground, ia token of
libnIlon. lilo now iegns TO be iipsy, aud |
rolls in the mud; whilst his poor wife runs !
after him, reproachug him pntheicaly and !
calling for help. A hand barrow is now |
brought, on which is placed tho gardener, |
WIN spade, cord, aud large basket
four strong men cnrry him on their should |
crs. Ills wife follows on foot, and the old |
iolks come after with grave aud pensve |
mr.; then the nupiial procession march nSo I
ny TWO 10 The measure of the music. The !
hring OF pistols recummencea, the dogs bark |
more loudly than ever ut the sight of the !
gordner thus horne in triumph, aud the chill |
dren Jeer him as he passes The procession
arrives at The brides dwelling, aud enters |
the garden. There u iine cabbage is select :
ed-n nnller which is not effected in hurry, |
for the old folks hold council, euch one
pleading for some tayorite cabbnge. Votes
are taken; aud when the choice is made, |
the gardner ties his cord round the stalk, aud |
retreats 10 The further end of the garden, |
whilst the other actors in the comedy the ,
iaxdresser, the grave-digger, the carpenter,
and tie shoennker-al stand round the |