The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-11-05
A CoIored wedding


A wedding is not considered quite
the solemn event it should be unless
attended by some of "de white folks
| was not little surprised at the
entrance of one of my neighbors,
not long ago, to invite me to we'd
ding. ~
But" said, "they did not ask
me-" nrrs r ~
THAT is always left with u.s." said
my neighbor. THE more that come
the more impressive the occasion.
All you have to do is to carry q
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 finery you have, for the more
conspicuous you make your appar-
el the more you honor them"
So | arrayed myself in my best
bib and tuck, with an Indian neck
lace of shell and bracelets to match
which had hung in my cabinet for
months. Ny large chocolate cake
was ready and looked very appeti-
zing. Mr.. S. came round with the
wagon, which | slowed away a fold
ing clothes-horse destined for the
bride.
The cabin had been unpartitioned
if NAV use the word and where
four rooms had been there was but
one. 1t was pretty sight, after a
drive of five miles, to see the little
homestead surrounded by bush fires
north, east and west, which a dozen
little negroes kept supplied with fu-
ell. A wilder scene | never came
upon. The brilliant flames set off
the log cabin, all folded in with
honeysuckle vines (; the dusky ush-
or, busy in looking after the car
riages of the guests, all the mea 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 women, every
one dressed in the brightest colors,
with huge boquets in their belts and
white flowers in their hair, tie long
tables, covered with snowy linen,
made up in all a tout ensemble that
was like a picture from another coun-
try.
We were ushered in with great
ceremony by Augustus Whiiiieman
and instantly surrounded by the
guests in ebony, who quickly and
deity relieved usof 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-five and the
bride really pretty girl of sixteen.
One of the colored people whisper
ed to me that sister Felicia had gone
done good thing for herself-that
"Brudder" Bulge bad a farm Of
twenty acres and a bright nice cabin
to put her in, adding. "An' he'll tote
her earthly down de valel" to all of
which listened with a serious coun-
tenance.
Slipper 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 matter OF
course. After we had finished, the
others fell to, and it was asamusementI
enough, to watch the proceedings
from the feast to the blessing, and
from the blessing to the dance. |
Speeches OF copgratulation and toast
were made, some of the latter odd |
enough. and drunk with lemonade,
one of which was as follows:
'I perceive dat dis lemonade is a
mixter 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 sour
vid spice of bitter in it. l hopes
you'll git 'em so well mixed
dat it'll seem sweet all through and
de bitter1l on'y be a sort o'medicine
to make you all right if you ebber
do go wrong"
Then came the scraping offiddles,
but as they were proposing to daree
we drove away in the halo of bla-
zing fires to the sound of the merry
laugh.