The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-08-19
Village Wedding in Sweden.

will endeaVor TO describe a village wed :
ding in Sweden. II shall be in summer
Tune, that there may be flowers; and in a
Southern province, that the pride may be
far. The early song of the lark and of the
chanticIeer are mingIing in the clear morn
ing air, and The sun, the heavenly BRIDE
groom with golden looks arises 10 the east,
just as our earthly bridegrcom, with her
yellow hair, arises in the south In the
yard there is sound of voices and tramp
ling of hoofs, and horses saddled The
steed that is TO bear the bridegroom has a
bunch OF flowers upon his forehead, and a
garland OF corn flowers around his neck
Friends from the neighboriug farms come
riding in, their blue cloaks streaming in the
wind and finally the happy bridegroom,
with whip in his hand and a monsuous
nosegay in the breas; CT his black jacket
comes forth form his chamber and then 10
horse and away towards the village, where
the bride already sits and waits
Foremost rides the spokesman, followed
by some half dozen village musiciaDs
ANCAk ~OihCo AliC OitutEiOOU bttHBc0 MS
two groomsmen, and then forty or fifty
friends and the wedding guests, half of them
perhaps. with pistols and guns in their
hands. a kind of baggage wagon brings
up the rear, laden with food and drink for
these merry pilgrims. Al the entrance OF
every village stands a triumphal arch laden
with flowers and ribbons, and evergreens
and as they pass beneath it, the wedding
guests fire a salute, and the whole process
ion stop and straight from every pocket
flies a black jack filed with punch or BRAN
dy. 1t is passed from hand 10 hand among
the crowd provisions are brought from
the wagon, and after eating and drinking,
and hufrahing, the procession moves for-
ward again, and at length draws near the
house of the bride. Four heralds ride for
ward TO announce that knight and his al
tendants are in the neighbOring forest, and
pray Tor hospitality. How many are you?'
Asks the brides father. ''At least three
hundred - is the answer; and 10 THE the
bride replies, eyes, were you seven times
as many, you should all be welcome, and
in token thereof receive this cup.' Where
upon each herald receives a can of ale, aud
soon after the whole iovial company come
streaming into the farmers yard, and riding
round the May pole which stands in the
centre, alighi amid grand salute aud flour.
ish OF music
In the hall Sits The bride with a crown
upoc her head and a tear in her eye, like
the Virgin Mary in old church paintings
She is dressed in red bodice and krile,
with loose linen sleeves. There is a gid-
ed belt around her wais:, and around her
neck strings OF golden beads end golden
chain. On The crown rests wreath OF wild
roses, and below it another of cypress
Loose over het shoulders falls her faxen
hair, aud her blue innocent eyes are fixed
hast hard hands but soft heart Thou ART
poor. The very ornaments thou weaTest
are not thine. The blessings o! heaven be
upon thee So thinks the parish priest as
he joins together the hands of the BRIDE and
bridegroom, saying in deep solemn tone,
Il give thee 10 marriage this damsel TO be
thy welded wife in all honor, to share the
half OF thy bed, thy lock and key, and every
third penny which you two may possess,
or may Inherit; and all the rights which
INLAND laws provide, and the holy king
Erie gave.
The dinner is served, and the pride sits
between the bridegroom and The PRIEST
The spokesman delivers an oraiion, after
the custom of his fathers. He inlerlands il
well with quotations from the Bible, and in
vites the Savior 10 be present a, the mar