Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1853-02-17
" BRIDE BROOK. ="

Last week we gave a brief notice OF
Miss Caulhins' History of New London.
The following interesting incident of the
Golden times" we copy from PIP. 4s. 40,
Of this work. 1t is blu. one of very ma.
ny pleasantly.told facts with which the
volume abounds.
"a young couple in Saybrook were 10
be married; the groom was Jonathan
Rudd. Fhe Governor (Winthrop) does
not give the name Of tie bride, and un.
fortunately the omission is not supplied
by either record or tradition. The we'd
ding day was fixed. and magistrate
from one OF the upper towns on the river
was engaged to perform the rite; 70,
there was not. it seems. any person 10
Say brook duly qualified to oficiate on
such an occasion. But "there falling
out at that time great snow" the paths
we're obliterated, travelling INSTRUCTED, and
intercourse with the interior Interrupted :
so that &c the magistrate intended to 90
down thither was hindered by the depth
of the snow" On the seaboard there is
usually q less weight of snow, and the
courses can be more readily ascertained.
The nuplials must not be delayed without
inevitable necessity. Application was
therefore made to Winthrop to come to
Saybrook, and unite tie parties. But he,
deriving his authority from Massachus
sets, could not legally oficiate in Gomez.
ticut.
i saw it necessary, he observes. to de.
ny them in that way, bnt told Thorn for an
expedient TOR their accommodation, if thew
come to the plantation it might be- done
But that being too difficult for them, it was
agreed that they should come to that place.
which is now called Bride Brook, as being
a place within the bounds of that authori.
ty' whereby then acted otherwise had
exceeded the limits Of my commission
This proposition was accepted. On the
brink OF this little stream, the boundary
between the two colonies. the parties met
Winthrop and his friends from Pequet, and
the bridal train from Sayhrook. Here the
ceremony was performed under the shelter
of no roof. by no hospitable fireside, witha
out any accommodations but those fur.
nished by the snow covered earth, the
overarching heaven, and perchance the
sheltering side Of forest of pines or ce.
dars. Romantic l0vers have sometimes
pledged their faith by joining hands over a
narrow streamlet. but never, perhaps, bee
fore or since, was the legal rite Performed.
In situation SO wild and SOLITARY, and under
SO interesting and peculiar.
We are not told how the parties travelled.
on noIseback, or on sleds or SNOW;
shoes-nor what cheer they brought with
them, whether cakes or fruit. the mice Of
The orchard or vineyard. or the fey extract
Of the cane. We only know that at that time
and comforts were few. and
Injuries unknown. Yet simple and hemelv
40 the accompaniment must have been.
glow Of hallowed beauty will ever lest upon
the scene. We fancy that we hear the foota
Tramp upon the crisp snow-the ice cracks
10 they cross the frozen stream-the wind
signs through The leaAsss forest, and the clear
voice Of Winthrop swells upon the ear like
dsvout strain Sfmusic, now low, and then
rising high to heaven. as it passes through
the varied accents of tender admonition, legal
decision and solemn prayer. The impressive
group stand around, wrapped in their frosty
with heads reverently bowed down.
and at the given sign. the two plighted haads
come forth from among the furs, and are
:lasped together in token of life long. az
ectionate trust. The scene ends in a general
burst OF hearty hilarity.