The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-12-22


and Mr.. Ben Wood, who really does elevate
his right, but bends his arm scientifically, a
il to ward off blow from an Antagonist.
Village Wedding I'm Swedens
! will endcavor to describe village we'd
ding in Sweden. 1t shall be summer tine.
that there may DO aowsrs; and southern
province, that the brido may be fair. The
early songs Of tho lark and Of chanticlssr srs
minglug with the clear morning air, and the
sun. tho heavenly bridegroom With yellow
hair. rising in the south. In the yard there
is sound of voices and trampliug OF hoots,
and horses are led forth and saddled. The
stecd that is to bear the bridegroom has
bunch of flowers ON it's forehead and garland
Of corn flowers about his neck. Friends from
the neighboring farms come riding in their
blue cloaks flying in the wind; and finally
the happy bridegroom, with whip 10 his
hand, and monstrous nosegay in the breast
of his blue jacket, comes from his chamber;
and then horse and away towards the vii.
lage where the bride already sits and waita.
Folemt st rides the spokeman, followed BY
some half dozen village musicians. Next
comes tho bridegroom between bic two
groomsmeu, and then forty or fifty friends and
wedding guests, half Of them, perhaps, With
pistols aud guns in their hands A kind OF
baggage wagon brings up the rear, laden With
food and drink for those merry pilgrims. At
the entrance of every village stands trium,
phal arch, laden with flowers and ribbons and
eyergreens, and as they pass beneath IL, the
wedding guests fire a salute, and the whole
procession stops and strait from every pocket
flies black jack filed With punch or brandy,
It is passed from hand to hand among the
crowd; provisions are brought from the wag-
on, and after eating and drinking and hur-
raining, the procession moves forward again,
and at length draws near the house OF the
bride. Four heralds ride forward TO announce
that king and his attendance are in tho
neghboriug forest, and ask for hospitality.
elbow many are you T. asked the brides 70.
ther. "At east throe hundred" is the sa.
swer, and 10 this the last replies: "Yess
were you seven times 80 many, you should Be
welcome, and in token thereof receive this
cup" Whereupon each herald receives con
of ale; and soon after the whole Jovial com.
pany comes streaming into thu farmers yard,
and riding round tho Aay-polo which stands
in The centre, they sligbt amid grand salute
and flourish music,
In the hall stands the bride, with crown
upon her head ane a tear in her eye, like the
Virgin Mary in cid church paintings. She i
dress ID in red bodice and kirtle, with loose
linen sleeves. There is q girdsd belt around
her waist, and around her neck stringa Of gold
en- beads, and golden chain. On the crown
re.ts a wreath Of wild roses, and below Il so
,her Of cypress Looss over her shoulders
falls her fiaxsn hsir, and her blue, iunocsnt
] eyes are fixed oa the ground. "Oh thou good
J soul! thou hast hard hands but soft heart
thou art poor, the very ornaments thou wear.
est are not th;ae; TIE bless,Egs Of Heaven up.
on thes!' So thinks the parish priest, ~ be
Joiuo 'vsv.l-., .l- L-aS. Of the bridegroom,
saying in = deep a solemn voice: u give
thee in marriage this dsmsel, to be thy wed.
} ded wife in an honor, to share the half Of thy
} bed, thy lcck snd key and every third penny
J which thou two may possess or may inherit,
all the righls which Uhlunds laws provide
and the holy king gives"
} And the dinner is now served, and tho
bride sits between the bridegroom and the
} priest. The spokesman delivers an oratiou,
after tho ancient customs of the fathers. He
} interlards it we'll with quotations from the
; Able and invites the Savior To be present,
as al the marriage feast Of Cana Of Galilee.-
The table is not spsringly ses forth. Each
makes long arm, ard the fesst goes cheer.
fully on. Punch and brandy pass around be.
, tween the courses, and here and there pipe
. il smoked while awaiting for the next dirh.-
They are long at the table; bnt as all thiDga
J must have an end, so must Swedish dinner.
, Then the dance begins. 1t is. led off BY the
bride and priest, who perform solemn min.
ute together. Nor until midnight comes the
last dance. The girls form circle around
: the bride TO keep her from the hands Ct the
: married women, who endeavor to break
7 through the magic circle and seize their new
sister. After long Struggle they succeeded,
and the crown is taken from her head and
jewels from her neck, aud her bodice is unlac-
: cd, aud kirtls taken of; aud like . vestal
virgin, clad all in white, she goea, but It is to
her bridal chamber, not her grave; and tie
welding guests follow her. with lighted can
: dies in their hands. Aud this is village
bridal. Longiellow. el ,-as5