River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-08-21
A Wedding I'm Silhouette.
Graphic Picture of Great Event Among
the Florida Darkies.


Florida Letter in San Francisco Chronicle.
A wedding is not considered quite the
solemn event it should be unless at
tended by some of ode white folkses.
was not little surprised at the en-
trance of one of my neighbors not long
ago to invite me to negro wedding.
but" said @they did not ask me. !"
"That is always left with us" said
my neighbor. "The more that come
the more impressive the occasion.
All you have got to do is to carry a
cake made for the bride, and if you
think best some inexpensive present
That, however, they don't look for, but
the cake they do. Put on all the fin
cry you have, for the more conspicuous
you make your apparel, the more you
honor them"
So I arrayed myself in my best bib
and tucker, with an Indian necklace
of shell and bracelets to match, which
had hung in my cabinet for months
My large chocolate cake was ready and
looked very appetizing. Mr.. S. came
round with the wagon, in which ]
slowed away folding clothes-horse
destined for the bride.
The cabin had been unpartitioned, if
may use the word, and where four rooms
had been there was but one. It was a
pretty sight after drive of five miles,
to see the little homestead surrounded
by bush fires, north, east and west,
which dozen little negroes kept sup
piled with fuel. A wilder scene | new
er came upon. The brilliant flames set
off the log cabin, all folded in with hon
ey-suckle vines: the dusky usher busy
in looking after the carriages of the
guests, all the men in white Jackets, the
inside of the cabin a i one red glow, an
immense fire blazing on the hearth,
showing the buxom figures of the wom-
en-, every one dressed in the brightest
colors, with huge boquets In their belts
and white flowers in their hair, the long
tables, covered with snowy linen, made
up i'll all tout ensemble that was like
We were ushered in with great cere-
mony by Augustus Whifietree, and in
stantly surrounded by the guests in
ebony, who quickly and deity relieved
us of our outer wraps. Then we were
stationed at the head of the table, the
children called in, and the ceremony
proceeded The minister was as black
as polished ebony. the bridegroom was
a good looking fellow of %, and the
bride a really pretty girl of 16. One
of the colored people whispered to me
that sister Felicia had gone done q good
thing for her self-that "brudder" Bulge
had farm of twenty acres and bright
nice cabin to put her in, adding, "An
he'll tote her earthly down de valet" to
all of which / listened with serious
countenance.
Supper being ready, we were in
stalled at the head of the table, while
the bridal party waited till we partook
of the viands, proceeding which /
confess made me feel rather foolish,
though the rest of the white company
took it as a matter of course. After
we had finished, the others fell to, and
it was amusement enough to watch the
proceedings from the feast to the bless
ing, and from the blessing to the dance.
Speeches of congratulation and toasts
were made, some of the latter were odd
enough, and drunk with lemonade, one
of which was as follows; II perceive
dat dis limonade is mixter oh sweet
and sour De sweet am berry sweet
and de sour am berry sour Dat minds
me dat life is made up oh de sweet and
de sour, vid a spice of de bitters in it.
1 hopes chillen, you'll git 'em so well
mixed dat it'll seem sweet all trough
and de bitter'l on'y be a sort O medi-
cine to make you all right If you ebber
do go wrong"
Then came the scraping of fiddles,
but, as they were proposing to dance.
we drove away in the halo of blazing fires
to the sound of the merry laugh.