The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-12-09

a.
September 26, 1859.
( want 10 give you some little account of
plantation lite by an eye witness, at least of
t one Of those particular scenes which YOU have
oitentimes heard far more graphically described
thaa an able to do, but to nv knowledge
have never been seen, viz a negro wedding.
! One Of Mrs. SIS house servants. named
Rhoda, married man ofone ol the neighboring
! plantations, named Jasper. The affair came off
lon last Saturday night the invitations were
out for O'Clock, but long ere that time great
number OF darkies had arrived. suppose The
guests must have exceeded, including the ser-
wants at home, one hundred and fifty.
| The yard and grove we're brilliantly lighted
| by fires Of light-wnod, which shed rich glare
| DER black women and still blacker men. The
women as a general thing, were dressed in
white tarleton or white muslin, and looked
very nice !; indeed, some OF them looked really
elegant, as finely dressed as any lady would be
at party their heads were ornamented with
flowers, beads, ribbons, and other coquettsh
things to break the hearts OF the duSky beaux
The men for the most part had black suits on.
Some of these smelled Jewish, and others Sec
ond-hand, but taking them all IN all they were
darkiPs that have ever seen, and | tell you |
have seen enough in my Lifetime.
The ceremony was performed by colored
clergyman he had his book IN his hand, but
bad it closed all the time-kDowng the service
by heart, and he 'joined the gentleman and
lady'' in molly wediock in fine style. There
were four bridesmaids and four groomsmen,
also two candle holders, according to negro
fashion, to light :he bride from her cabin to the
place OF marriage-they headed the procession.
Soon after the ceremony was over, the guests
marched in to supper, and before giving you an
account of the terrible slaughter which took
place of eyerything which was good, let me tell
you of the supper room, which took me whole
day 10 fix up as had seen good many and
knew exactly what would look best, [ asked
Mrs. S. to let them have new room, which
she had Just added 10 her house, instead of
tent which they contemplated erecting. She
told me certainly, and that [ might have every
thing that I wanted to adorn it with. | made
the negroes get me large number of ever
greens and flowers of all kinds, also four small
trees. The room is about TWENTY-FIVE feet long
! by eighteen wide. / placed the fou trees in the
four corners. and placed flowers m the branches,
/ which had pretty effect. Along the sides of
the room placed immense punches of pine and
/ laurel, and IN the centre of each had immense
boqurts. l placed evergreens all around the
doors and windows, putting in flowers every
where | could get them. [ made also very
pretty ornament for the centre of the ROOM
! I took a large round work basket and suspended
! it by four strings about four feet long, aud
covered he strings with evergreens and roses
. .b fill. f,,I
/ and ornamented the outside with streamers Of
white and red ribbons, aud then suspended the
whole from the ceiling the room itself looked
/ elegant.
There were three tables set-two IN as
many corners for the meats, and one the length
/ Of the room for confectionery, sc. The brides
cake was in the centre, under the basket of
/ flowers the principal table was loaded down
with cakes, blanc-mange iellles, candies, kisses,
and in fact, everything you would find at a
! large party, except lce-creams, Sherbert, &C.,
/ it being impossible to get ice to make them
J The tables were brilliantly lighted with can
! dies fixed in fancy stands ornamented with
evergreens, laurels, flowers, &c. The side
/ table groaned beneath the weight Of nnumera-
( bic chickens, also roast beef, shoats sc. also,
/ pickles. &c. Candles were arranged all round
( the walls amongst the evergreens. Altogether,
/ the whole affair looked more like a fairy bower
/ than a supper-room for poor oppressed SlOUeS.
! O that Mr.. Seward could have looked upon
/ this scene, he would then, no doubt, have seen
/ that the poor, downtroddsn servants OF the South
managed sometimes to have something beitec
/ laan hoe-cake 10 eat.
We were all worried to know wha. they
should have to drink, water seemed 50 poor and
lemons could not be got, and wine was of course
ont of the question for them. The thought
then struck me TO make some pomgranate-ade.
- | made the darkIeS gather dozen or so, and
squeezed the Juice, and made very delicious
drink, like couant shrub / made several GAL
I Ions OF the mixture, and Il went like shot
cakes tell you. The negroes all pitched in-
10 their supper with great guslo, aud all bad
4 monStrous good app-lltrs, and did ample Justice
{ to everything. | went iuto he room mvself,
and waited on all who were 100 bashiu to help
themselves, and made myself otherwise 0usefuI
as well as ornamental" ftef supper some OF
the darkyS struck up their iddles, and then all
sorts OF negro dances, jr-s, &c, were enacted,
much 10 the amusement OF all the white folks.
! | was charmed myself with all | saw. | had
read 50 many descriptions of such occurrences,
that to see one on regular plantation was a
great treat 10 me. The whole affair was kept
up until late hour, and lighter and happier
SET OF pei sons there never was.
! would like to have bet Mr.. Greedy anything
that il he had preached for one whole hour, be
could not have persuaded one of them TO go
North with him.-WaSh,ngton STATES.
ga down east editor says he has seen the