Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-05-17
9 Selett Gale.
From Frsaers' Magazine.
THE FIRST BRIDAL VISIT.
PART FIRST

Those bells! how often ! seem again TO
hear that merry marriage peal-my Wedding
bells AS / dream in my chair, and hear at
intervals my husbands snore from tAe oppo-
site side Of the fire place, the curieW rumbiing
down the chimney changes by some gentle
mobilization into the echo Of merry CHIME
All, well We will draw no contrasts; ! was
wee little creature on that May-day lo-,
hardly out Of the school-room. Somehow l
had fascinated staid man, (oh, ntmporte d!
We will pass over his ago) was mlghtily
afraid OF him, in spite Oi bis pettIDg and pres
enls but people called US lovers. lie said
he had loved me better than all the world. !
certainly had never fallen IN love with auybo-
DIV, unless, it was with the handsome doctor
who had set up in the village, and used to
ogle NE in church Bu. / had never spoken
TO him. My father Was not rich, and had
lots OF sisters. / never had many dresses be-
fore, am sure grew an inch alter writing
all the orders to mIillners aud mantua- makers.
But they are tresome people. Cousin AiIck,
who was i'll at our house NJ the time, used TO
stand patiently and let Us hang the gowns
ana scaris upon him. All, poor cousin Alick
But that trouSSedu gave mc many heartaches.
/ heard the sage people say that MAS grow
my pale aud tim Tor love. l knew III my
own heart that Was ireltiDg because could
not have liouiton lace dress to be married
III, like Maria Forester. And one Of my
bonnets Was very unbecomlng. Ne!! then
came settlements and signing. and read the
scene in the Bride Of Ldmnermo0r, that |
might be perfect in my part. thought cou-
sill AIick coughed more, and looked pa!er
that night. forgot his looks, though, when,
on running up stars, found on my bed, oh,
4 4 L.. L., 4 Il al y
such a jewel-box, gllttering with necklaces
| flew down again and kissed Major Laurls'
ton before them all. The first time had
ever kissed him! What beautiful May
morning ii was, ald how well my dress loo1-
ed There stood the barouche and the !oul
greys at the door. Why did / cry SO il
church? | am sure DO not know; for | va,
not thinking of word old Mr.. Barton reat
out Of the prayer-book. Perhaps it was be
cause | saw my mothers eyes were wet, anc
| caught u tone of my cousin Alexis voice i!
the responses. ! never heard his voice sounC
like that before. We signed our names il
the yestry, and then every one fell a-kissing
and in the hurry kissed cousin Alick, anC
h was SO deadly cold. But Major Laulistol
lifted me into the carriage, and called me hi,
little VILE The villagers shouted. and som,
children threw flowers into my lap, and ",
dashed up to the lodge gate. AS We drov,
down the avenue the head Of the bsrouch,
struck against laburnum in full blossom
A shower Of drops blinded me, and lonl
vtress Of yellow flower fell on my lAce. ] new
er pass that tree now without recolecting it
ominous welcome. l thought the old ser
wants would have shaken my hands off.
seemed to me fine thing to be married, an
so TOLD my bridesmaids when they drew lot
Tor my gloves and everybody laughed AT me
At last We set of, and looked back agai
and again, and still! my mother waved he
handkerchief, and still the group crowded I
the door. Then l wept in earnest; felt S
iorlorn, aud Major Laurston, sitting in tn
corner OF the barouche looked as formidabl
to mo as when We were first introduced. o
dear had forgotten that, whether i like
it or not. ! must stay by bis side. The
there was my new maid ! used to say
; would be fine thing TO have a real lady,
maid. How often wished for old Heste
back again ] was dreadIully afraid of th
Ellis thought she was always laughing 6
me in her sleeve. used TO try to slip u
stairs quietly into my room, but she found OF
/, by witcheralt whenever wanted to go ou
|; There l found her alwoys folding my shaw
/ and pressing out the bows of my bonnet
was quite afraid to put on ny .hings becpn
ingly, aud then l used to fancy Major Lauri
. ton would not'be SO kiud to me, ii ] did NJ
look as pretty and stylish US formerly.
told him Of my terror at Ellis, but lie smils
fgravsly, asd said si,s Was sniis ;isht Q