Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-11-13
Weddings in 0lden Times" I"
From William Meningitis "our Western
Boider''

From William Meningitis "Our Western
Border"
For a long time after the first set
tlement Of 4 country, the inhabitants
in general married young. There Was
no distinction of rank, and very little
OF fortune On these accounts the
first impression of love resulted in
marriage, and a family establishment
cost but little labor and nothing
else. A wedding engaged the atten-
ton Of q whole neighhorhood, and
the frolic was anticipated by old and
young with eager expectation This
is not to be wondered ct when it is
told that a wedding was almost the
only gathering which was not accom-
p,uied with the labor of reaping, log
rolling, building a cabin, or planning
some scout or campaign.
In the morning Of the wedding
dsy, tire groom and his attendants
assembled at the house OF his father,
for the purpose OF reaching the man
zion Of his bride by room, which was
the usual time for celebrating the
nuptials; which for certain must take
place before dinner. Let the reader
imagine an assemblage of people,
without a store, tailor, or mantau-
maker within a hundred miles, and
aa asserbiage of horses, without a
blacksmith or saddler within an equal
distance. The gentlemen, dressed in
shoepacks, moccasins, leather breech-
es, leggins, and Ensey hunting shirts,
all homemade: the ladies In Gnsey
petticoats, and hnsey or linen short
gowns, coarse shoes and stockings,
haadkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves,
if any. If there were any buckles,
rings. buttons or rufies, they were
relics Of old times-family pieces
from parents or grandparents
The horses were caparisoned with
old s..ddles. old brides or halters,
and pack-saddles, with e bag or blan
ket thrown over them; a rope or
string as often constituted the girth
as q piece Of leather The march in
double file was often interrupted by
the narrowness and obstructions OF
our horse paths, as they were called,
for we had no roads; and these diff
culties were often increased, some
times by the good, and sometimes by
the Ill viii OF neighbors, by telling
trees and tying grape-vihes across the
wav. Sometimes an amjuscade was
formed by the way-side, and an unez
pected discharge OF several guns tooh
place. so as to cover the wedding com
pany with smoke. Let the reader
imagine the scene which followed
the sudden spring of the horses, tht
shrieks Of the girls, and the chivalri'
hustle of their partners to save then
from falling. Sometimes, IN spite o.
all that could be done to prevent 1t
some were thrown to the ground L
a wrist an elbow, or an ankle, hap
pened to be sprainedi it was tied Vi
with handkerchief, and little NOR
said or thought about it.
The ceremony of the marriage pre-
ceded the dinner, which WAS sub
stan tial backwoods feast of beef, pork
fowls. and sometimes yenison an'
bear meat roasted and boiled, witt
plenty of potatoes, cabbage, an'
other vegetables. During the din
ner the greatest hilanty always pre-
vailed, although the table might be
large slab of timber hewed out wit
q broad-axe, supported by four stick
set in auger holes; and the furniture
some old pewter dishes and plates
eked out with wooden bowls an
trenchers. A few pewter spoons
puch battered about the edges, wer
seen at some tables; the rest Wer
made of horn. If knives were scarce
the deficiency was made up by tn
scalping knives which every man ca'
ried in shea.hs suspended to the bel
of the hunting shirt
After dinner the dancing con
nenced, and Generally lasted till tn
next morning. The figures of th
dances were three aud four7hande
reels and jigs. The commencement
was always a square four, which wa
followed by what was called g jiggin
it off," that is, two of the four woul
single out for jig, end be foiiowe
by the remaining couple. The jig
we're often accompanied with whs
was called "cutting out; that Il