Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-23
ooRorHVs WEDDING GIFTS.
Presents That Were Received at I've
Weddings In the same Family.

Weddings In the Same Family.
When, one summer day in 1870, II
was told in the village Of Farmlake that
Dorothy Vance was going to be mar
ried to James Hogue, all of her friends
set to work to prepare her n present.
Every one was fond of good little Dor
othy, and wished to show love for her.
Moreover, the whole village knew that
the young people were poor, and hence
the gifts were meant to be useful to
them in their beginning of married life.
Dorothy's mother gave her n dozen
coarse linen sheets of her own weaving;
her brother brought two sheep which
he had raised especially for her; the
old carpenter next door made her a Ia
BILE and n wooden bowl for kneading
dough; m farmers wife knitted her a
shawl, another mittens; a third wove
her a fine tablecloth to be used only on
grand occasions.
Dorothy was very happy in her new
treasures. Not only would each one OF
them make her married life more COM
Portable and pleasant, but each spoke
to her of long hours of patient labor for
her sake, and of the deep, tender affec-
ton which she had won. She turned
them over with a throbbing heart and
wet eyes. As long as she lived her
wedding gifts were kept and regarded
with a sacred reverence.
Now, in 1890, Dorothy Hogue, a
great-grandchild Of this little bride, Is
preparing for her marriage. Farmlake
is now a large city; the Hogues live in
an immense new colonial mansion"
upon the site of the old cabin which
was the home of their ancestors.
Dorothy is going to marry a man who
has a great fortune, and she is said to
have in her own right nearly as much
as he. During the two weeks preced-
| ing her marriage hundreds of wedding
gifts pour into the house. She and her
sisters sean them with sharp criticisms
and sarcastic comments.
"A silver coffee set from the Smithsl
Yes, it's very pretty" is the comment.
''Smith needs papa's backing in the
bank. That explains his generosity.
This pearl pendant is from Mrs. Johns.
| Now l call that mean! Three of those
Johns girls have had wedding gifts
from us each one worth this pearl
thing. These toilet sets Ill change for
glass. One can't have too much Of
that. Here are six grape scissors, and
every one marked SO that l cannot
change them, or even give them away.
How stupid! Belle Boyd set aside all
the trashy part of her gifts to send as
wedding presents" exclaimed Dorothy.
"She cleared hundreds by that little
game"
There Is not a touch of feeling or
sentiment for any of the costly offer
ings. Even her fathers gift, a dwell
ing splendidly furnished, has been the
subject of sharp dispute between him
and his daughter.
The custom, like many Others, has
lost its first high, tender significance,
and degenerated into an opportunity
for display and barter and sale. Aman
or woman who means to keep life simple
and true will thrust all such heartless
observances out of ii.
Betterthe bride should 60 to the altar
without a single gift than loaded with
tokens of sordid calculation and sham
good will.
When the soul has died out of q gus
tom let it be buried out Of sight. Like
all other dead things, it has become an
offense. Youths Companion.