The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-21

dark-green color of its walls. This old
room, which is on the right of the large
square hall, is redolent of ghostf, about
whom and their visitations many s'rsnge
and mysterious tales are told Bot the
ghosts OF the olden time have disap
peared, frightened eff by the practical
mode of life which has taken the place of
the old dolce far niente plantation life of
the past. A wide staircase runs up from
the door OF the "green chamber" and
leads to low ceiled rooms above, whose
walls you can almost touch as You walk
under them. The dormer windows are
very quaint and make charming recepta
cles for books, work-baskets and writing
desks. A long, narrow corridor with
rooms on one side and windows on the
other, leads to the chamber" as the
mistress room is always called. Here
the family congregate to sew and chat:
mere all household affairs are attended
to. Here all medicines and sick stores
are kept, and to the present time the COL
ored people come here to beg for "Iee-
tie calmol' or quinine, as their need may
be.
AS the wagon stops at the front gate we
are met by crowd of delighted relatives
who give us real old Virginia welcome.
The great number OF large trees form the
chief beauty of the fine grounds. Mag
piticent oaks, centuries old, with trunks
smooth and straight, forty feet high.
and tops crowned with luxuriant foliage;
hickories and chestnut trees, all making
a beautiful background to the old place.
The house is situated on the side of a hill.
which is explained by the fact that the site
was originally intended for the kitchen
"a part always separated from the main
house at the South). 1t was owned more
than hundred years ago by the Cover
nor OF Virginia. The quarters are now
silent and deserted where once all was
full of life and motion. At the time of
the wedding many Of the old family
servants were still on the place, and par
tlcularly interested in the cake making,
which went on for days. About thirty
guests were there for weeks before the an
ticipsted event, and spent part of every
day In the kitchen making goodies" and
large part of every night in dancing and
merry-making. As the wed ding. day ap-
preached the young people secured the
woods far and wide, and came back laden
with the spoils. Long wreaths of feath-
cry crows-foot, lunches of bright autumn
leaves and flowers, sumach berries, ferns
and moses, all contributed their luxuri.
ant beauty to the adornment of the house.
The old parlor bloomed into veritable
bower. The windows were graced with
cornices OF evergreen mingled with bright
leaves and scarlet berries. The old eight
day clock had grown vain and young in
plumes of purple aster and goldenrod.
The etagere "a piece of furniture seen in
every old Virginia parlor) had turned
into fernery under the skilled fingers
OF one of the bridesmaids.
The ceremony took place in the parlor,
and the bride, looking modest and lovely
in her simple white apparel, passed
through the aisle formed by her attend
ants, on the arm of her future husband,
and soon these twain were "made one
flesh" A large concourse of people for
miles around witnessed the Ceremony.
and outside, in the wide hall, and crowd
ing the stairway, was dusky throng OF
old servants, their white teeth cleaning
like the riffs in dark cloud.
There was "Aunt frankie" tall and
stately; Aunt Margie," the milkwomau;
Mary Caesar C'Mammy's" sister,, Peyton,
the old coachman and many others.
Crowds OF "pickaninnies" pushed their
iDquisitive noses through every convent
ent crevice, and received many a good
natured cuff from their elders. Grunts
and chuckles of delight were heard on
all sides, expressive of their admiration
and pleasure. The white folks were
glad to see them the re, and felt that their
right to be there was unquestioned.
After the ceremonies the dancing (al-
ways the cream" of Virginia weddineD
began, and lasted until nearly morning.
The Virginia reel closed the evening
(night never begins IN Virginia until you
retire., danced with an abandon and zest
which would make cool northern heads
swim. Almost every one stayed all night,
and took breakfast the next morning. A
large party went with the bridal couple
to the homs of the groom's father, and
here the fun continued for days longer.
Our music at one party consisted OF
banjo, violin, and a jewsharp, played
as only negroes know how to play. They
are born musicians, and have beautiful
voices full of psthos not to be acquired
by the whites. Well, it was a wed ding Of
"long ago." and some of the guests are
married and some are dead, but none Of
the living who we're present at that sold
Virginia wedding" will ever forget it,
"Vtrgipid" IN Hartford Times.