The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-07-01
Village Wedding in Sweden.

L will endeavor to describe a village
wedding in Sweden. 1t shall be in sum-
mer time, that there may be flowers; and
in southern province, that the bride may
be fair. The early song of the lark and
of the chanticleer are mingling in the clear
morning air, and the sun, the heavenly
bridegroom, with golden locks arises in
the east, just as our earthly bridegroom,
with yellow hair, arises in the south. In
the yard there is a sound of voices and
tramplng of boots, and horses are sad
died. The steed that is to bear the bride
groom has bunch of fowers upon his
forehead, and a garland of corn flowers
around his neck. Friends from the neigh
boring farms come riding in, their blue
cloaks streaming in the wind; and finally
the happy bridegroom, with whip in his
hand and a INDUSTRIOUS nosegay III the
breast Of his black jacket, COMES forth
from his chamber; and then to horse and
away towards the village, where the bride
alread y sits and waits
Foremost rides the spokesman, followed
by some half dozen village musicians.A-
Next comes the bridegroom between his
two groomsmen, and then forty or fifty
friends aud 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.
AT the entrance Of every village stands
triumphal arch laden with flowers, and
ribbons, and evergrcens; and as they pass
beneath it, the wedding guests fire a sa-
Lutte, and the whole procession stops; and
straight from every pocket 6es black
jack filled with punch or brandy. 1t is
passed from hand to hand among the
crowd provisions are brought from the
wagon, and after eating and drinking, and
hurrahing, the procession moves forward
again, aud at length draws near the house
OF the bride. -Four heralds ride forward
to announce that knight and his atten.
dans are in the ncighboring forest, and
prays for hospitality. "lIow many are
your" asks the brides father. "At
least three hundred" is the answer; and
to this the bride replies: eyes, were sew
en- times as many, you should all be well
come, and in token thereof receive this
cup Whereupou each herald receives
can Of ale; and soou after the whole jo-
vial company come streaming into the tar
mer's yard, and riding round the May
pole which stands in the centre, alight
amid grand salute aud flourish OF music.
In the hall sits the bride with crown
upon her head and a tear in her eye, like
the Virgin Mary in old church paintings.
She is dressed in red bodice and kirtle,
with loose linen sleeves. There is a gid.
ed belt around her waist, and around her
neck strings Of golden beads and golden
chain. On the crown rests wreath Of
wild roses and below it another of cypress.
Loose over her shoulders falls her haxen
hair, and her blue innocent eyes are fixed
on the ground. o thou good soul thou
hast hard hands buta soft heart Thou art
poor. The very ornaments thou wearest
are not thine. The blessings of heaven
be upon thee! SO thinks the parish
priest as he joins together the hands Of
the bride aud bridegroom, saying in de- p
solemn tone, 81 give thee in marriage this
damsel to be thy welded wife in all hon.
or, to share the half of thy bed, thy lock
and key, and every third penny which
you two may possess, or may inherit; aud
all tho rights which INLAND laws pr vide,
aud the holy king Eric give