The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-15
/. Htiseellaasens,
village weddIng in sweden.

Village Wedding i'm Sweden.
l Twill cnaeayor to describe village we'd
ding in Sweden. 1t shall be summer time,
that there may be fl wers; and in southern
province, that the bride may be fair, Ths
eaily songs Of the lark and Of chanticleer are
mingling with the clear morning air. and the
sun, the heavenly bridegroom with yellow
hair, rises in the south. In the yard there's
q sound Of voices and trampling of hoofs, and
horses are led forth and saddled. The steed
that is to bear the bridegroom has bunch of
flowers on his forehead and garland of corn
flowers about his neck. Friends from the
neighboring farms come riding in, their blue
cl.aks flying in the wind; and finally the
happy bridegroom, with a whip in his hand,
and monstrous nosegay in the breast Of his
blue jacket, comes from his chamber; and
then to horse and away toward the village
where the bride already sits aud waite.
Foremost rides the spokesman, followed by
some half dozen village musicians. Next
= comes the bridegroom between his two gTooms-
men, and then forty OF fifty frienda and we'd
ding guests, half of them, peshapa, with pis-
tolls and guns in their hands. A kind If bag
sNsa -"F@gen brings up the roar, laden with
food and drink for those merry piIgriIns. III
the entrance Of every village stands triura-
phal arch, laden with flowers and ribbons and
evergreens, and as they pass beneath it, the
wedding guests FIRE salute and the whole
procession stops and straight frora every
pocket flies black jack filed with punch OF
brandy 1t is passed from hand to hand
among the crowd; provisions are brought
from the the wagon, and after eating and
drinking and hurrahing, the procession moves
forward again, and ct length draws near the
house of the bride. Four heralds ride for
ward to announce that knight and his at
PENDANTS are in the neighboring forest, and
ask for hospitality " How many are you %
asks the brides father. "At least three
hundred, is the answer, and to this the last
replies; Yes, were you seven times as many
you should be welcome, and in token thereof
receive this cup" Whereapon each herald
receives can Of ale; and soon after the whole
Jovlal company come streaming into the farm
er's yard, and riding round the May-polt
which stands in the center. they slight amid
grand salute and flourish of music.
In the hall stands the bride, with a crown
spon her head and a tear in her eye, like the
Virgin Mary in old church paintings. She
is dressed in bed bodice aud kirtle with
loose linen sleeves. There is eiraed bel
around her waist, and around her necl
strings Of golden beads, and a golden chain
On the crown rests wreath Of wild roses
and below it another Of cypress. LocEe owe
her shoulders falls her faxen hair, and be
blue, innocent eyes are fixed Ga the ground
On thou good soul! thou hast hard hand
but soft heart! thou art poor, the very OIL
naments thou wearest are not thine; the bless
lngs OF heaven upon thee!' So thinEs th
parish priest, as he JOINS together the hand
OF the bridegroom, saying in deep and so
emn voice: Il give thee, in marriage, thi
damsol, 70 be thy welded wife in al homo
to share the half Of thy bed, thy lock and Ike
and every third penny which thou too ma
possess or may inherit, all the rights whic
Ohland's laws provide and The holy kin
gives"
And the dinner is now ssrved. end n
BRIDE sits between the bridegroom and Ii
priest. This spokesman deliyera an GRAFTON
after the ancient customs of tao fathers. f
inieIlards it well with quotations from Il
Bible, and invites the Saviour to be prescp
as at the marriage feast of Cana of Gelilee..
The table is not sparingly set forth. Ca,
maaes long arm, and the feast soss chseri
on Punch and brandy pass around betwe
the courses, and here and there G nine
smoked while waiting for the next dish.
They sit long at table; but as allthings MI
have an end, 50 must a Swedish dinner.
Then the dance begins. 1t is led Of by /
bride and priest, who perform aolenn mi
net together. The girla form circle aroul
the bride to keep her from tie hands of Il
married women, who endee7or to brs.
through the magic circle and seize their nc
sister. After ng struggle they ruccesde
and the crown is taken from her head Al
jewels from her neck, and her bodice is !
laced, and kirtle taken of; and ike vest
virgin, clad al in white, she gees, but it is
her bridal chamber, not her grave; and /
wedding guests follow her with lighted G,
dies in their handa. And this is a will,
bridal LoagttIow.
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Some Facts CONCERNING Reptiles
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