The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-01-30
WEDDING PARTIES IN VIRGINIA.
AN INTERESTING SKETCH.

For long time after the first settlement o.
this country, the inhabitants in general married
young. There was no distinction of rank, and
very little of fortune. On these accounts the
first impression of love resulted in marriage;
and family establishment cost but little labor
and nothing else.
A description of wedding from the beginning
to the end, will serve to show the manners OF
our fOrefathers; and mark the grade of civiiza-
ton which has succeeded to their rude state
of society in the course Of few years.
In the first year of the settlement of the coun.
try, wedding engaged the attention of the
whole neighbOrhood and the frolic was antici-
pated by old and young with eager expectation.
This is not to he wondered at, when it is told
that wedding was almost the only gathering
which was not accompanied by thelabor of reap
ing, log rolling, building cabin, or planning
some scout or campaign.
On the morning of the wedding-d day, the
groom and his attendants assembled at the house
Of his father, for the purpose of reaching the
home Of his bride at noon, which was the usual
time for celebrating the nuptials, and which,
for certain reasons, must take place before din
ner.
Let the reader imagine an assemblage of per-
sons, without store, tailor, or mantua- maker
within hundred miles, and an assemblage of
horses, without blacksmith or saddler within
an equal distance. The gentlemen dressed in
shoe packs, moccasins, leather breeches, leg
gins, linsey hunting shirts, and all home made
The ladies dressed in linsey petticoats, and lin
sey or linen bed gowns, coarse shoes, stockings
handkerchisfs, and buckskin gloves if any. Il
there were any buckles, etc.. they were family
pieces from parents or grandparents. The
horses we're caparisoned with old saddles, OIL
brides or halters, and pack-saddles, with bag
or blanket thrown over them; rope or string a.
often constituted the girth as a piece of leather
The march in double time was often inter-
rupted by the narrowness and obstructions Of
our horsepaths, as they were called; for we had
no roads, and these difficulties were often in
creased sometimes by the good, and sometimes
by the i'll will Of neighbors, by falling trees
aud tying grapevines across the way. Some
times an ambuscade was formed by the way.
side, and an unexpected discharge Of several
guns took place, SO as to cover the wedding
company with smoke. Let the reader imagine
the scene which followed this discharge sud
den spring Of the horses, the shrek Of the girls
and the chivalrous hustle of their partners ia
save them from falling. Sometimes, in spite
Of all that could be done to prevent it, some
were thrown to the ground. If wrist, elbow
or ankle happened to be sprained, it was tied
with handkerchief, aud little more thought OIL
said about it.
The ceremony Of the marriage preceded the
dinner, which was a backwoods feast of pork
beef, fowls and sometimes venison and beal
meat, roasted and boiled, with plenty Of pota.
toes, cabbage, and other vegetables. During
the dinner the utmost hilarity prevailed; al.
though the table might be a rough slab Of hewn
timber, hewed out with broad-axe, supported
by four sticks set in auger holes; and the fur.
niture some old dishes and plates, the rest wood.
en- bowls and trenchers; few pewter spoons
much battered about the edges; were seen al
some tables the rest were made Of horns. Il
knives were scarce, the deficiency was made NJ
by the scalping. knives, which were carried il
sheaths suspended to the belt Of the huntinl
shirt Every man carried one Of them.
] After dinner, the dancing commenced, AMI