The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-16
sU N D AY READING.
THE BRIDAL WINE-CUP.

4 the State of New York the deacon
Of a certain Christian church, who was
noted for his liberal qualities, who was in
the habit Of giving large wine suppers
among his brotherhood of the church,
and as general thing, the guests would
return home rather more than slightly
inebriated or rather more intoxicated
than they would have been if they had
staid at home and enjoyed the pleasure of
their own families, and saved themselves
the trouble of carrying the big head upon
their own shoulders on the following day,
as was the case. The scene which l wish
to represent was one of a similar kind.
Upon Christmas day of '51-it was
the marriage Of the only daughter of the
deacon-it was night of joy and glee.
After the marriage ceremony had been
performed, the bottles of wine were
brought forth; all present filed their
goblets full of the poisonous nectar, ex-
cept one, who stood like marble statue.
1t was the bride; while the words were
spoken from one of the crowd, Pledge
with wine" Pledge with wine," cried
the young and thoughtless Harry Wood ;
" Pledge with wine," ran through the
crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale; the de-
cisive hour had come. She pressed her
hands together, and the leaves of her bri-
dal wreath trembled on her pure brow ;
her breath came quicker, and her heart
beat wilder.
eyes, Marion, lay aside your scruples
for this once" said the deacon in low
tone, going toward his daughter; the
company expect it; do not so infringe
upon the rules Of etiquette; in your own
home act as you please, but in mine, for
this once please me-"
Every eye was turned toward the
bride, for Marion's principles were well
known. Henry had been convivialist,
but of late his friends had noticed the
change in his manners-the difference
of his habits-and tonight they watched
to see, as they sneeringly said, if he was
tied down to woman's opinion so soon.
Pouring brmming goblet, they held
Eit with tempting smiles toward Marion.
She was very pale, though more composed
and her hand shook not, as, smiling back
she gracefully accepted the crystal temp
ter and raised it to her lips. But scarce
ly had she done so when every one was
attracted by her piercing exclamation Of,
Oh, how terrible"
What is it?" cried one and all
thronging together, for she had carried
the glass to her arms length, and was
fixedly regarding it as though it was some
hideous object.
"What?" she answered while an in.
spired light shone from her eyes " wait
and will tell you, see," she added
slowly raising one Of her fingers at the
sparkling liquid "a sight that beggars al
description (; and yet, listen--I will paint
for you, if can it is lovely spot; tall
mountains, crowded with verdure, rise in
awful sublimity around; river runs
through, and bright flowers grow to the
waters edge. There is thick, warn
mist, that the sun seeks vainly to pierce
Trees, lofty and beautiful, wave to the
motion of the breeze. But there grouI
of Indians gather, and fit to and fro with
something like sorrow upon their DARK
brows, and in their midst lies manly
form-but his dark cheek, how deathly
his eyes wild with the ftful fire O.
fever. One friend stands beside him,
should say kneels, for see, he is pillowing
that poor head upon his breast. Genius
in ruins on the high, holy looking brow
why should death mark it, and he Sc
young Look how he throws back the
damp curls See him clasp his hands
hear his shrieks for life how he clutches
at the form of his companion, imploring
to be saved Oh, hear him call piteously
his fathers name see him twine his flu.
gers together, as he shrieks for his sister
his only sister, the twin of his soul
weeping for him in his distant native
land See" she exclaimed, while the
bridal party shrank back, the untasted
wine trembling in their grasp, and the
deacon fell overpowered into his seat
"see, his arms are lifted to heaven; he
prays, how wildly for mercy But fever
rushes through his veins. The friend
beside him is weeping. Awe-stricken,
the dark men move silently away and
leave the living and and the dying to-
gether.
There was hush in that princely par
lor, broken only by what seemed a smoth
cred sob from some manly bosom. The
bride stood yet upright, with quiverinf
lip, and tears streaming into the outward
edge of her lashes. Her beautiful arm
had lost its extension, and the glass, will