The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-07-25
M.oUAD AT A CRACKER WEDDING.

NJ. QUAD AT A CRACKER WEDDlHO'
He "Stands Up' for the Bridegroom In
Great shape.-A Twenty Dollar Bill puys
Almost "Extravagous" Outflt-the Gener-
GUS Stranger is Prayed for.
One of the traditions among certain
lowlands in the South is that the pres
ence of far off stranger at wedding
brings good luck, writes M. Quad. lt is
likewise the custom that he who islands
for" the couple shall make the purchase
of sugar and salt. To "stand for" a
couple may mean to help them elope, or
10 simply ride for the preacher, lend the
groom a dollar or buy the bride hand
kerchief. A couple which can get no
one to "stand for" them are set down as
"onfitten. The idea is very old, and
when you come to sift it down there is
a good deal of honest sentiment in it.
Tom set out about ten o'clock in the
evening to notify the "Squar" that he
would be wanted about ten O'Clock next
forenoon and to invite the neighbors up
and down the road to the wedding.
When he had gone Mrs. Tanner said
"You'un has travelled right smart
reckon. and must have met with oil
sorts. What do you think of the match,
honest pudding p
II think it good one. believe Tom
will make good man and get along
we'll, and Sarah loves him and will be a
helpmeet."
"And he's gwine to hire niggers tc
hoe out our crap" added the Deacon.
And to think of it ma'am" exclaimed
Sarah-"to think he'un has come way
down yere from Mitchig4 n to stand fol
us! Did you ever know the likes ?"
"Must hev bin fifteen or it wouldn't
a-come about" observed the mother az
she knocked the ashes from her pipe.
Tom had 'squatled" on piece of gov
eminent land about three miles away
and erected log cabin. He had quite
clearing, and his crops promised well
Indeed, he had more personal property
and was accounted better to do than any
one for six miles around. Half mill
below Tanners was a country store, anC
next morning was there as soon a.
breakfast was disposedof. As the read
er may some day "stand for" lowlant
couple, here append list of the outti
purchased: Three tin pans,a wash dish
a coffee pot, a tea pot, two jugs, si1
plates, a set of knives and forks, cup
and saucers, dishpan, table and tel
spoons, two pals, several bowls ant
platters, tumblers, sugar bowl and but
ter dish, five pounds of white and tiv,
pounds brown sugar, tea, coffee, saleratus
starch, molasses, -four and several othe
things. The bill for all this was triti
under $12, and the store keeper solemn
" assured me it was the most ''luXuri
Gus" outfit he had cold in twenty years
and that the young couple would be en-
wed by all for dozen miles around.
He had some furnitute stored away il
a room over the store, and after inspect
ing it / made rap for bureau, bed
stead, rocker and four chairs, making
the whole bill an even 500 Michigan
could not be expected to do more unde
the circumstances. / made certain ar
rangements for the delivery Of the good
and then returned to Tanners. Tn
'Squar was on hand, and the guests wer
beginning to arrive.
Toms outfit consisted of ready mad
$40 suit of clothes. l had a white shir
and collar In my knapsack, which ha,
been saving for some extra occasion
and after a little coaxing got Tom T.
put Uutb6 lOdu0u ulul u pdlI vi Gull
and my watch, and after / had trimme,
off his hair all around he looked into th
glass and exclaimed:
"Lor' save me but you'un has du
and made me. 80 nice that I dasn'
move !"
was called into see Sarah before tn
climax came. She had on dark blu
calico, calfskin shoes and knot of blu
ribbon at her throat. Her hair bee
dressed with bars oil, her hands scrut
bed up with soft soap and meal, an,
while she didn't look exactly like a
angel, she came as near to it as coul
have been expected under the circum
stances.
By ten O'Clock all the guests had al
rived. They comprised five families
each one bringing out the children, an
about dozen colored people also put i
an appearance, Some of the wome
cried, some smiled, and one old lad
consolingly remarked to Sarah
"Come, now, but don't be skeert. l.
druther git mar'd any time than to he
the jaunders." .r
The 'Squar had determined to show Of
little, and after repeating the marriag
ceremony as laid down in the law b
started out to say few words on hi
own hook. He got as far as my friends
you have now entered upon a new lif
and | trust" when he checked W
got frightened and came to dead stoI
The situation was becoming painful
when one of the guests remarked
"Squar', you shet and squat, it's
bigger bar than you orter tackle wit
tbnF oldaoaab,,, ~ ~
The 'squar was only to glad to do sc
he sat down and we all passed arount
in single file to congratulate the couple
The men kissed Sarah and the wome
kissed Tom, then couple Of negro tid
dlers came in, the room was cleared an
we danced for an hour. 1t was abou
l o'clock when we got ready to set GU
on the bridal tour. .....
Tom and his bride were 10 go in the o.
cart by the road, while the rest of u
we're to cut across the woods. Befor
leaving the house Sarah removed he
shoes and flung 'em out doors, and Ton
went after and brought them back. /
was a custom to signify that he accept
ed her without property expectations
In leaving home to set up for herself
lowland girl must break something an,
replace 1t on her first visit. Sarah brok
an old teacup, and the people then gath
cred and drove the pair out doors a
geese are driven, the women flirtinI
their aprons and crying "Shoo lshoo
and the men pretending 70 throw clubs
" On. the way through the woods III
marriage was commented on as the"mos
extravagous" that had ever occurred il
that neighborhood, and when it was dis
covered that the 'squar had received tw,
big dollars for his work the feeling 0
the crowd we're too deep for tltterance
One of the women folks Informed m
that Sarah would start in life with tw
bed quilts, three sheets, two husk pill
lows, a husk bed, two kettles a skillet
two teacups and saucers, two knives an,
forks, a home made table, ''8nd as man.
as two or three yards of rag carpet
This was considered a grand outfit 70
that neighborhood. d..
Deed, but Ireckon it's too much rich
es to start on exclaimed the womel
1T may. make 'em vain and conceited.
The storekeeper had sent the thing
as agreed, with colored woman 10 al
range them, and when we entered tn
cabin the sight seemed to strike every
body dumb with establishment. Nc