Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-01-10

est inns parlor, where blank book was
opened for subscriptions.
An ancient and bountiful Welch Gus
tom directs that the friends and neigh
bors Of persons approaching the holy
state shall furnish their tenement with
the most useful articles of furniture and
bridal festivity each giver placing his
name or mark opposite the name of his
gift in book already mentioned, which
is duly kept by the welded pair, that an
article of the same kind, or equal value,
may be given at his or her marriage.
The benefits of this reciprocal benev-
olence need no comment, and the hon
est gro1pe collected at the sign of St. Gu
rig on the day which begins my story
seemed well disposed to exemplify it.
But as David Gwynne had farm of
f10 per annum, which fed two hundred
sheep, and Lillian's father was supposed
to possess a rich mine of lead ore in his
own right, the gifts on this OCCASION were
rather tokens of good will and intended
revelry than mere household equipa ge.
Not maiden or q youth was presesent
whose emulation or friendship did not in
duce him or her to subscribe the book ex-
cept one who stood mournfully and in ST.
lence among the crowd. This idle spec
tator who was the betrothed BRIDES
cousin, Idwal ap Morris, youth about
her own age, and much resembling her
in beauty, though his intellect was far in
ferior, and had been impaired, it was
thought, by too long and disappoint.
ed dotage on his uncle's daughter. As
he had some money, and might inherit
more, the damsels of Llanbadarn won
dered at his failure, and saw no great
deficiency in his merits. They gathered
round him with mixture of sly malice
and curiosity, to ask why he did not sub
scribe his name to a new tea-kittle and
set of chiEa, which were wonted to COM
plete his kinsno noman's equipment. The
parish-clerk promised to provide him
with doleful elegy to send with it; and
the schoolmaster added, laughing, "Let
him, as Theocritus saith, offer another
calf to love-"
Idwalheard these taunts without smile
or words, but on eve of the bridal day was
seen on the high road from Aberdovey
to Cardigan leading fatted calf with
great care and speed. Now Fortune,
willing to verify the maxim that we'd
dings and burials are near each other, or
being bountifully disposed to crafty the
good people of Llanbadarn with both,
brought at the same hour magnificent
hearse on that road. The most POM
pous and solemn part of its Office was al
ready done, and it was returning, with
only one attendant, through a marrow
defle in this mountainous tract, when
it encountered the Welch Cymon and
his companion. These, being jealous of
their Importance, insisted on precedence,
and the driver of the black vehicle de-
clared it waited for no mans bidding
The dispute was referred to the usual
mode of Cambrian arbitration, wrest-
ling-match, for which the horse-driVer
alighted, and Idwal opened its door, pru-
IDENTIFY intending to deposit his calf nth
in it as a place of safety. But at that
instant another hand seized the hearse-
door from within, skeleton face resem-
bling him who presides over the vehicle,
put itself forth. A spectacle so uneIpec-
ted and ghastly made Idwal cover his
face, and exclaim, "Nay, man, I'll not
fight death and his coachman too. In
St. Gurig's name, get ye on p Tue
black caravan disappeared, and Idwal
hastened forward with his nuptial offer
ing, taking care to dip itin Ffynon Gurig,
or the saints well TO purify it from sor.
Gerry.
A bright May-morning assembled all
the assistants of a marriage-ceremony at
Llanbadarn. As ancient and peculiar
custom dictates, they set forth to the
habitation of Lillian's father carrying
the gifts designed to decorate hers and
enrich the wedding feast in it. Kinsmen
and bridemaidens came in their best at
tire, led by Idwal, mounted on one of the
low lean horses OfCardiganshire. dressed
in the ragged black carsock he had sto
len from the parish clerk, probably as
kind ofmourning, or because it belong
ed to the best village poet, for, as he
said, he came to give his cousin away
to David Gwynne, and to perform the
part of bard at her marriage. Cambrian
ceremony requires that the bride should
be carried to church by her nearest rel
ative's horse, after much solicitation in
extempore verse. Idwal profered him
self gallantly as brideman with wreath
of daisies and mistletoe in one hand and
a bottle in the other, filled with water
from St. Gurig's well, which ensures
sovereignty to the wife if she can obtain a
draught before her husband. Lillian,
looking as meek and pale as the daisies
in his coronet, underwent the mimicry of
a forcible conveyance on her kinsnan's
rough palfrey and long ride to the par.
ish church, followed by mirthful as