Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-07-25

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preaching festivities. Women have their
hands full in preparing various baked
dishes and other things suitable upon such
OecasiOns-men in bOttling vodka, engag-
ingmusicians and working about the house
The village, which only few weeks ago
looked as though it were forsaken, assumes
now a gay and lively appearance Every
villager is more or less in state of excite
ment But here the bride, dressed in q
brocaded short skirt with half dozen
folds, in
CHARMING LONG SLEEVELESS GARMENT
called korsyet, her hair full of bright and
streaming ribbons and flowers, starts ont
accompanied by her girl friend, called
druzhka, TO invite her relatives and friends
to the wedding. Every one she meets,
whether friend or stranger, is greeted with
bow nearly TO the ground. That means
You are welcome, good people to attend
my wedding" Very often l used to avail
myself of such opportunities. What inter
ested me most the first time | attended a
peasants wedding was the sight of the
lively crowd that surrounded the izba
(hut) where the wedding took place. The
gloomy and stern expression 50 natural to
the peasant it seemed to HE was changed to
one of joy and happiness. No uproar, no
strong Language, in short, not the least
sign of anything rough could be noticed in
the lively crowd; all behaved i'll n manner
worthy of people Of higher standard of
culture The brides father, who on such
occasions is called swat by everybody,
passed around the crowd and treated all
present as we'll as he could from large
bottle of vodka and a wooden dish full of
wheat cake. Wishes for the prosperity OF
the newly-married couple, of the parents
of the bride and bridegroom and of all good
people in general, as well as for the eternal
peace of the dead, were heard upon all
sides.
But here the ringing of bell somewhat
startled the crowd "Ah, the bridegroom
4 few moments later, three wagons, each
with trOlka, or span of three horses, stop
ped i'll front of the gate. As the bridegroom,
accompanied by his parents and relatives,
was about to enter the yard q number Of
parObOks, with long rope i'll their hands,
placed themselves on each side of the gate,
thus signitying that not unless ransom
lot lllc DIltlt WAS ILllNl Nbllil IhlAhN ~
allowed to enter. An offer of n tchetvcrt
(gallOn) of vodka was made, which they
declined to accept. One gallon more brought
the parObOkS to terms, and the bridegroom,
led by his father and one of his relatives,
entered the gate with triumph. After
some difficulty, by closely following the
bridal party succeeded in gainingentrance
into the izba. The first sight that met my
eyes was the bride sitting at the head of
the table surrounded by her maiden friends
and weeping bitterly while the latter sang:
Farewell. sister:
Thy new home expects thee.
Farewell, sister farewell
It was moment of both solemn sorrow
and glory. The bridegroom was soon
placed ut
THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS SWEETHEART
After Il round treat was made and some
fellow, an impoverished speaker, made
up 4 speech" one of the brides brothers,
young boy of -, bent her head, and with
pair of shears in his hand, threatened 10
cut off her locks. Another ransom of five
or ten kOpeckS was offered, and thus the
brides beautiful locks was spared.
The crowd at the same time amused
themselves in the yard. The musicians,
an old blind fiddler and two young fellows,
with drum and cymbals, We're hard 1T
work. The red-chceked dyivkas, attircd
in their bright skirts and ribbons, rs well
as the parObOks in their Sunday syitaS,
kept on dancing and jumping till a very
late hour in the night Vodka was Occa-
Sionally served and thus little by little the
happy and glorious time of the old zapOrog
COSsacks began to rise before me. But
time of parting came ut last and the crowd
dispersed apparently i'll the best of humor.
Now and then amid the deep silence of the
night. few words of cheer concerning the
wedding or a scrap of song was still heard
from various parts of the small village.
On the following day the young couple,
accompanied by some of their friends and
relatives, start ont Ia pay short visits Ia
various friends in the village where some
scanty wedding presents are collected ut
the same time After this is done all re-
turn Ia the home of the brides parents,
where an cpicurian dinner, consisting of
bOrSch with pork, is waiting for them.
Then follows the scene of the brides taking
her leave of her parents, brothers, sisters
and some girl friends, who come Ia see her
of, This is one of the most touching
scenes ! ever witnessed. The Young cOu
pie, standing in the middle of the room,
with their heads bent, receive the blessing
from the brides parents. Upon such an
occasion the bride, of course, is not able to
control her tears, which flow like Il stream
from her eyes, and the bridegroom looks
pale and is apparently touched. Towards
evening the bride may be seen OH her way
to her new home where some domestic
duty, such rs milking The COW, may expect
her that very evening.