Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-05-06

end of it large enough to hold the
biggest backlog that might be cut in
the primeval forests close at hand From
the oaken rafters overhead hung strings of
| onions, festoons of dried apples, long gar
lands of pumpkins, sides of bacon and
brown hams. In one corner stood looms.
and beside them a great spinning wheel
and s'Jenny" The beds had been
cleared away from one of the bedrooms on
the first floor, and in it were set the tables
for the entertainment. Loaded with cold
roast turkey and chicken, mince and
pumpkin pies, sole kokes," doughnuts,
jumbles, plain cake, pound-cake, fruit
cake, apples and nuts, they fairly groaned
under the weight of their hospitality.
Soon after our arrival there was a little
stir and clearing of space about the door
that separated the kitchen from the sit
ting-room, and the bridal party came in.
The bride was young and had the bright
ruddy complexion 50 universal with the
girls on those hills, living active, useful
lives as they did. She was dressed in
some soft material of worsted and silk !;
the short sleeves and four-inch bodice
were dashed with blue, and she wore
blue sash, and blue morocco
shoes with high heels. The groom was
stalwart, broad-shouldered young fellow,
fine in hOmespun clothes and brass but
tons. The Yankee schoolmaster and the
bridegroom's sister were groOmsman and
bridesmaid. The marriage ceremony was
short and simple. Then followed much
kissing and many jokes, some not so re-
markable for wit as certain coarseness
that passed for it. Supper followed, and
great was the merriment when the brides
maid drew the ring that had been put in
the wedding-cake After supper the table
was cleared as by magic; the elders re
tired to the sitting room and the hostess
bedroom, where on the high-post bed
stead, hung with blue checked curtains,
slept my little baby, unconscious Of all
that was around her; of all that was be-
fore her. The young people had gathered
in the kitchen and supper-room and soon
the sound of their merriment came in to
old | was the minister's wife and had to
sit-much against my inclination-with
the staid, old people.
Hunt the slipper and kindred games
were played with forfeits, and after a
while there was a sort of lull, and then a
scraping and twanging sound, and knew
the alarm for us to leave had sounded, for
the fiddles were being tuned for the dance :;
and, sure enough, my good husband at
once arose and said very gravely, Susan,
think we had better be going now. i"
Soon we were wrapped up, and baby, who
opened her blue eyes only minute, and
stared about as if unable to decide whether
this was a part of her dream or not, and
then shut them again, was tucked once
more into the great muff, and we accepted
the invitation of one of our own deacons
to ride home with him and his wife
. Did you get the two dollars, NAL
colm?" [ asked, when we were again at
our own hearthstOne. Yes, indeed" he
answered, q and another dollar beside,
which the schoolmaster told me was for
making the ceremony so short. Old
Dominic Van Horn, Of Johnstown, who
used to do the marrying, was wont to keep
the poor creatures standing an hour and
sometimes more. The Yankee Ereck-
oned' | had tied 'em jest as fast in five
minutes" And the dear fellow put into
my hand three silver dollars, saying,
There, Susan, there is so much toward
educating the wee bairnie"
| shall take little space to tell of we'd
five on Christmas Eve. Times have
changed in forty-five years. A few weeks
ago Malcolm-his hair is :" like the snow"
now-and | came to the city to visit our
daughter-the wee bairnie' whom
once carried in my muff. And last week
we were invited to attend a wedding at one
of the collegiate churches in Fifth avenue
The bride was the granddaughter of the
young woman who was married that night
forty-five years ago, up in Montgomery
County. What contrast there was in the
weddings and in the brides! This youn g
sheeted snow; her point D'Alencon
f1ounces and wreath of real orange-b bios
SONS, was as pale as a lily, and her waist
was so slender that wondered how she
had strength to carry the weight of her
train. No roses save white ones doomed
| on her cheeks. 4No wonder. She never
| MIXED the sweet reathed kline; she never
carded wool and flax, and spun
and wove, as her handsome grand
mother did. The wedding was a
very grand one. From the church door
to the sidewalk there was an awning, and
the pavement was carpeted. There We're
six bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the
church was filled with gaily dressed people.
| The clergyman who married them wore
a gown and read the service from book
| Then at the house there was great dis
| play of flowers and presents, and the bride
and groom, surrounded by their attend
ants, stood in state for hours and re-
ceived their friends; and wines and ices