The Mineral argus., 1884-08-28
a Wedding In Silhouette.
Graphic Picture Of a Great Event Among
the Florida Darkies.

Graphic Picture Of q 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
'ended by some Of ''de white folkses."
1 was not a little surprised at the en-
trance of n of my neighbors not long
ago to invite me to a negro wedding.
"But," 1 said "they did not ask me"
"That is always left with u.s." 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 j 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 1
slowed away a folding clothes-horse
destined for the bride.
The cabin had been unpartitioned, if 1
may use the word, and where four rooms
had been there was but one. 1t was a
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 sup
piled with fuel. A wilder scene I new
Ell 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 al n 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 in all a tout ensemble that was like
a picture from another country.
We were ushered in with great cere-
mony by Augustus Whihletree, and in
stantly surrounded by the guests in
ebony, who quickly and deity relieved
us of u 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 nrnA1- 1nAlfnr Fn1I1rr 80 OK 81 A.
bride a really pretty girl of 16. One
of the coloTed people whispered to me
that sister Felicia had gone done a good
thing for her self-that "brudder" Bulge
had a farm of twenty acres and a bright
nice cabin to put her in, adding, can
he'll tote her earthly down de vale !" to
all of which / listened with a serious
c~ountenance.
Supper being ready, we were in
stalled at the head of the table, while
the bridal party waited till we partook
of the viands, a proceeding which L
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
PAOOCOOAnSS 1LOm bnS lcdSb W JuC Dl6SS-
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; 81 perceive
dat dis limonade is a mixter oh sweet
and sour. De sweet am berry sweet
and de our am berry sour. Dat minds
me dat life is made up OBJ de sweet and
de sour, yid 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 bitterll on'y be a sort O. medi-
cine 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.