News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-09-04
A FLORIDA COLORED WEDDING.
In which Brother Bulge was Groom and
Augustus Whinetree Best Mun.

A wedding is not considered quite the
| solemn event it should be unless attend.
ed by some of ode white folkses." I
was not little surprised at the entrance
OF one OF my neighbors, not long ago, to
invite me to negro wedding.
But, | said, "they did not ask me. ~
"1hat IS always left with US" said
my nelghbor. ''The more that come
the more impressive the occasion All
you have to do is to carry a cake made
ior tne bride, and if you think best some
inexpensive present. That, however,
they don't look for, but the cake tbay
40. Put on all the fncry you have, for
Ihe more conspicuous YOU make your
apparel, the more you honor them"
80 L arrayed myself in nv best bib
and tuck, with an Indian necklace of
shell and bracelets to match. which had
hung 10 my cabinet for months NV
large chocolate cake was ready and
looked very appetizing. Mr. 8 cana
round with the wagon. in which I
slowed away folding clothes-horse des-
tined for the bride.
The cabin had been unnartitioned e
may use the word, and where four
rooms mad been there was but one. Tt
was pretty sight, after drive of five
miles, to see the little homestead sur
rounded by bush fires, north, east and
west, which dozen little negroes kent
supplied with fuel. A wilder scene 7
never came upon. The brilliant flames
set off the log cabin, all folded in with
honeysuckle vines; the dusky usher,
busy in looking after the carriages of the
guests, all the men in white Jackets. the
inside of the cabin all one red glow. an
immense fire blazing on the hearth.
showing the buxom figures of the wo-
men, every one dressed in the brightest
colors, with huge bouquets in their
belts and white flowers in their hair. the
long tables, covered with snowy linen,
made up in all a tout ensemble that was
like picture from another country.
We were ushered in with great cere-
mony by Augustus Whiffietree, 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
good-looking fellow of.twenty-fi five and
the bride really pretty girl of sixteen,
One of the colored people whispered to
me that Sister Felicia had gone done
good thing for herself-that "Brudder"
Bulge had farm of twenty acres and
bright nice cabin to put her in, adding.
can he'll tote her earthly down de
vale !" to all of which 1 listened with n
serious cOuntenance.
Supper being ready we were installed
at the head of the table, while the bridal
party waited till we partook of the
viands, proceeding which l confess
made me feel rather foolish, though the
rest of the white company took it as
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 blessing, and from the
blessing to the dance. Speeches of con-
graduation and toasts were made, some
of the latter odd enough, and drunk
with lemonade, one of which was as fol-
lows:
81 perceive dat dis lemonade is mix
ter OBJ sweet and sour. De sweet am
berry sweet and de sour am berry sour.
Dat minds me dat life is made up of de
sweet and de sour, vid a spice of bitters
in it. I 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.
medicine to make you all right if you
ebber do go wrong"
Then came the scraping of fddles,
but as they were proposing to dance we
drove away in the halo of blazing fires
to the sound of the merry laugh.