The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-11-06

TUG neppy miller and his bride 10 the manse
independent of the married, middle-age1 anC
grey-haired visitors. who followed behinc
and by our side. We were thus proceeding
onward to the house Of the minister, who's
blessing was to make a couple happy, an
the arm Of the blooming bride was through
mine, when heard voice, or rather le
me say . sound, like the croak OF q raven
exclaim-
Mercy on US saw ye e'er the ike o
that the best man; I'll declare, has I
black coat on!
"An' that's no lucky 20 replied another.
Lucky |" responded the raven voice
"just perfectly awful wadna it had hap
pened at the weddin' o. . BARN o. mine fol
the kings dominions."
| observed the bride steal q glance ut nv
shoulder; felt, or thought felt, as if she
shTunk from my arm; and when spoke tc
her, her speech faltered. found that my
cousin, in avoiding one omen, had STUN 5led
upon another, in my black coat. was wroth
with the rural prophecies, and turned round
to behold her. Her little grey eyes, twink
ling through spectacles, were wink, winking
upon my ill-fated coat She was a crooked
(forgive me for saying an ugly), little, old
won an; she was "bearied like pard," and
walked with . crooked stick mounted with
silver. Goa the very spot where she then
was, the last witch in Scotland was burned. J
| turned from the grinning sIbyl with dis
gust.
On the previous day, and during part Of
the night, the rain had fallen heavily, and
the Broxburn was swollen to the magnitude
Of q little river. The manse lay on the op-
posite side Of the burn, which was generally
crossed by the aid Of stepping stones; but
on the day in question the tops Of the stones
were barely visible. On crossing the burn
the foot OF the bride slipped, and the bride.
groom, IN his eagerness TO assist her, slipped
also-knee-deep in the water. The raven
voice was again heari-it was another
omen.
Tie kitchen was tie only room In the
mAnse large enough to contain the specta-
tors assembled to witness the ceremony,
which passed over smoothly enough, save
that, when the clergy man was about TO JON
the hands Of the parties, drew of the glove
Of the bride a second or two before the
bridesmaid performed q similar operation on
the hand OF ths bridegroom. | heard the
whisper Of the crooked old woman, and saw
that the eyes Of the other women were upon
me. | felt that [ had committed another
omen, and almost resolved to renounce
wearing "blacks" for the future. The cere-
mony, however, was concluded; we returned
from the maE Sc, and everything was forgot
ten, save mlrth an music, till the hour ar
rived for tea.
The brides mother had boasted OF her
"daughter's double set O. real china" during
the afternoon; and the female part of the
company evidently felt anxious to examine
the costly crockery. A young woman was
entering with tray and The tea equipage-
another, similarly laden, followed behind
her. The "sneck' of the door caught the
handle Of the tray, and down went china,
waiting maid, and all The fall startled her
companon-their feet became entanglel-
both embraced the 1oor; and the china from
both trays lay scattered around them IN a
thousand shapes and sizes This was an
omen with vengeance could not avoid
stealing a lock nj the sleeve Of my black
coat. The bearded old woman seemed in
spired. She declared the luck Of the house
was broken or the double set Of real china
not cup was left-not an old saucer. The
bridegroom bore the misfortune as a man
and, gently drawing the head Of his young
partner towards him, said
Never mind them, hinny-let them gang
we'll get mair."
Tne bride, poor thing, shed a tear; but
the miller threw his arm around her neck,
stOIe kiss, and she blushed and smiled.
\ Il was evident, however, that every one Of
the company regarded this as real omen
The mill-lof was prepared for the joyous
dance; but scarce had the fantastic toes
(some Of them were not light ones) begun to
move through the mazy rounds, when the
l,G. - 10 A1r, d.,
feet OF the happy y-hearted miller; for, unfOr-
tunateiy, be considered not that his goodly
body was heavier than his spirits. II was
omen upon omen-the work of breaking had
begun-the "luck" Of the young couple was
departed.
Three days after the wedding, one Of the
miller's carts was got in readiness to carry
home the brides mother. On crossing the
unlucky burn, to which we have already al
luded, the horse stumbled, fell, and broke
its knee, and had to Be taken back, and
another prt in It's place.
'Malr .eaKingsr' exclaimed the now
almost heart-broken old woman. "Oh, dear
sake how will a. this end tor my puir
BARN -
remained with my new-found relatives
about week, and while there the miller
sent his by for payment Of an account OF
thirty pounds, he having to make up money
to pay q contractor at the Haddington mar
ket on the following Jay, In the evening
the boy returned.
"Weel, Gallant" inquired the miller,
''hae ye gotten the siller ?"
"No," replied the youth.
"Aercy me !" exclaimed my cousin, has
tily, "hae ye no gotten the siller1 Wha
did ye see, or whas did they say I"
81 saw the wife," returned the boy; "an'
she said-'Siller ladde, what's brought We
here for siller f-I daresay your masters
daft | Do ye no ken we're broken Pm
sure a'body kens that we broke yesterday
"The mischief break them 7" exclaimed
the miller, rising and walking hurrledly
across the room-"this 10 breaking 10 ear
nest"
| may not here particularize the breakings
that followed. One misfortune sncceeded
another, till the miller broke also. All that
he had was put under the hammer, an he
wandered forth with his young wife
broken man.
Some years afterwards, | met with him in
a different part Of the country. He had the
management Of extensive -four mills. lie
wae again doing well, and had money 10 his
masters hands. At last there seemed TO be
an end Of the breakings. We were sitting
together when a third person entered with a
ruefuI countenance.
"Wnlie," said he, with the tone Of a
speaking sepulchre, "hae ye heard the
news 20
"What news, now - inquired the miller,
seriously.
"The masters broken !" rtjoined the
other.
'An' my fifty pounds - responded my
cousin, IN a voice Of horror.
"Are broken wi him." returned the
stranger. "Oh, guide gracious II cried the
. young wife, wringing ner hands, "Pm sure
| wish ! were out O. this world will ever
tbir breakinGs be done what tempted my