Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-14
Courtship among the Breton
peasantry.

The village tailor perform in Brittany
mos, important part; and as he is general
" the poet. so is he frequently selected as
the negotiator Of the rustic marriages of the
district. When the preliminaries have been
arranged, the tailor, then called the "baz
valan," or messenger of love-" from the
young man TO fancee, proceeds to the resi-
dence of the parents of the latter, bearing
with him branch of broom in his hand
as a symbol characteristic of his MISSION
Here he is introduced to the brenter or
advocate or defender on the part of the
young girl, whose duty it is to battle the i'm
portunity of the lovers missionary as long
as possible The baz-valan, after the usual
courtesies of greeting, replies to the bren-
tar respecting the purpose of his visit,
and informs him that "a certain pigeon and
beautiful white dove were wont to con-
sort together, but that the latter had been
scared away bya sparrow hawk, he is now
seeking tor her in every direction" The
brenter replies, THAT he has seen neither
dove nor pigeon.
"Young man, you lie" responds the Baz
valan rather unceremonlonsly, ''our people
beheld the white dove, in her flight decend
into your very orchard"
The brenter still denies all knowledge of
the lost one upon which the messenger of
the young man declares THAT his pigeon
will surely die, AMI that he must depart to
seek the dove elsewhere" "Stop, friend"
the other replies, 81 will 60 and search the
house perhaps may find your white dove"
He retires, and shortly returns with lit.
tie girl. "No, no, tina, is not my dove -
yet, charming little flower. if my pigeon
were a drop of dew, he would decend upon
thee !" then. after pause, he adds, 81
shall ascend to your granary, perhaps she
has entered it in her flight"
"Wait a while, friend" SAYS the brentar;
and retiring, he again returns with the mis-
tress of the house, 81 have been into the
granary," he cries IL could nol find your
dove, only this ear Of corn abandoned by
the harvesters." AS many grains as have
the ear OF corn" replies the young mans
advocate, $50 should my white dove, when
seated in her nest, nave OF little ones under
her wings" Again the brenlBr departs; he
returns with the grandmother
81 cannot find your dove" he says, "but
I nave found an over-rlpe apple; and an APP
pie wrinkled by the sun and wind, that has
hung long time on Abe Tree among the
leaves put it into your pocket and give 1t
to your pigeon to eat, and he will mourn no
more"
81 want not your ear " corn, nor your
wrinkled apple, but my little dove; and
seek her will"
Good heavens have patience friend,
replies the young lady's advocate, "your
little dove is not lost she is well takea
care OF IN my chamber, in cage,of ivory,
with bars OF gold and silver; 50 gay, so
sweet, so beautiful my little dove
AT length after this awful delay the fair
betrothed is produced. The father of the
family also makes his appearance, and
brings horses girth; while he fas,ens this
rude appendage, the brenter sings an an.
propriate but by no means delicate song
Other ceremonies and songs follow and
il is not long after the marriage is concIud.
ed before the exactions on the welded na;r
cease. In parts Of Brittany. in Leon, for
example. the bride and the bridegroom are
the subjects of the "fete of the cupboard"
apiece of furniture of that description be.
ing presented as bridal gift. 1t is com.
monty made Of walnut tree, highly polished
and ornamented. Decorated with garlands
it's conveyed to the house Of the newly