St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-21
ST JOHNSBURY, VT, FRIDAY, JAN 21, 1881.

proaches her mother-in-law, for it is
she that she literally marries, for she
selects the girl and makes the bargain
with her mother and will either make
her home life miserable or happy, for
the sons marry on in Turkey and their
wives are only servants to their moth
er-in-law. This is quite a long cere-
mony. When the last of the 30 guests
have been saluted, she withdTaws to
one end of the room, where all can gaze
at her, and all are served to a cup of
Turkish coffee. Our fears were excited
by dark fluid poured into small tum-
blers, as Turkish whiskey is often used
on such occasions, which we declined,
but it is not considered polite to accept
the first time offered, and the old lady
at my right informs us that it is not
red wine nor strong drink, that it is
only sherbet.
After being regaled with musk and
water melons, rice boiled in milk, hon
ey, and red candy with fresh butter on
the top, of which you are expected to
take large Jumps at a mouthful, bits of
shapeless, tasteless Turkish candy,
sponge cake of American make (for no
Protestants think they can have a feast
without it). Soon there is an excite
ment, aud they say a mart (man) is
coming, and all the Turkish women
have their sheets brought and put on,
so that only one eye is visible, and two
men enter and sit down, and as soon as
the principal guests are seated, they
come for the groom to look over the
girl, and as she is quite pretty, they
congratulate him and are treated to re-
freshments. Two tables are brought,
on which are placed a famous dish for
this country it resembles pastry, rolled
thin as paper, and one sheet laid upon
another to the number of 80 perhaps,
and honey placed between each piece,
diamond shape and highly ornamented
with gold leaf designs in bright cOlOred
candies. 1t covers a very large dish
like waiter, upon which it is baked,
two feet in diameter, and offered on a
small dish to the guests, to be eaten
with your fingers. Then the gold is
presented by the relatives, beginning
with the grandmother; little silk
thread is fastened to each coin, and one
of the sisters of the groom fastens il
upon the yOzma of the bride elect, un-
til ID pieces are thus sewed on. Then
the one who sews them on salutes one
by one all the guests, and the pool
bride elect follows after this long drawn
exercise the old lady into the corner
who produces curious bundle, and {
| long and much Ornamented adaman-
tine candle is lighted and given her a:
she stands before us, and each person
is presented with tiny wax taper, sly
inches long, held between the fingers
Imagine 10 persons seated on cushions
each one holding in broad dayligh
three wax tapers They are to ligh
her through the dark time when sht
thinks of leaving her fathers house
Next the old lady produced beautiful
wax candle and exchanged it for tn,
fancy one which the girl held, simila
to the one the groom carries to his wed
ding. Then the men departed. Afte
4 the dessert was removed dinner wa
served meats and many dishes wer
, served, and the Americans alone wer
hOnored with forks and ebony spoons
When the apricOts appeared our heart
weIe rejoiced, knowing the end dreS
near, and as soon as possible we eXcus
ed ourselves, and found upon reachin
home that we had spent seven hours a
this feast, lasting from ~ m. until u |
m, which is repeated every year unit
she is married, and as this girl is quit
Young. she is left at home for sometim
longer. Engagements are rarely broke
in this country.
We always come from these feasts 5
thankful that we had our home in
Christian land, where higher object
interested us. 1t is surprising wit
what honor the missionaries are treate
on such occasions but owing often
curiosity. But if it influences them
I attend church and school, listen to til
, music and instruction given, the tim
h thus spent may not be wasted, and a
, tending some of these tiresOme feas
i, brings Us into contact with seme of I'll
+ wealthy Turkish women, and if we de
= clined their invitations, might often
4 them and lose the only opportunity "
: shonld have of reaching them. TT
=, service for the Master is more varit
than at home, sometimes doing oil
. thing and then another, but our Mast
set us an example and the discip
n should not be above his Lord.
l.. b. CHAMBERLIN.
An Unpaid Servant.
.S HOW NETTIE JARVIS GOT HER WAGE