The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-02-12
AN ACADIAN WEDDING

This tale should have been heard as
I heard it in Nova Scotia. The woman
of Scotch descent who told it to me had
kept it in her mind since childhood.
Together we sat looking at Cape
Blomidon, yelled, yet clear, against the
northwestern horizon. From the
church site of that ancient deserted
village Grand Pre- dixie lands stretched
toward the sea; and the tide was out,
leaving a beach miles wide. That
misty, delicious, wonderful country!
No wonder the Acadians died of home
sickness for it. No wonder they crept
back in groups and twos to Cape
Breton Island and Shediac and other
spots not too remote from the sheltered
basin of their fathers.
The English-speaking people now on
their lands kept every relic and ira
dition of them.
81 was brought up almost inside of
old Fort Gaspereau." said this grave
Scotch woman. You know it was
built to guard the north side OF the
neck of Nova Scotia, as Fort Beause-
jour was built to guard the south side.
played with other children inside the
ramparts of that ruined old fortress.
We solcmnly enjoyed the graveyard
there, though none of us could read
the French inscriptions on headstones.
But there was one wide grave with five
men in it, all killed by Indians; we
understood that much.
81 never believed that the Indians
who killed those five men were Mic
macs. For the early French people
and these Nova Scotian Indians were
| like brothers.
1.-The Micmacs are a gentle, artistic
race. They never show great courage,
they hate to work at hard physical
labor-at least they would hate to If
they ever attempted it. But they excel
| in weaving and in all sorts of feather
work. think they could easily mix
colors and paint pictures. Their
beautiful dark eyes seem full of talent
that never finds expression. They are
discouraged people, and never try to
be anything.
you cannot pin Micmac down to
any spot. His lodge is now here and
now there. He will follow summer to
the farthest borders of the country.
ga Micmac always makes himself
look picturesque. And such dainty
hands and feet-you should see the In
step of Micmac squaw! The men,
|
them are halfbreeds-do not slouch
around the railway stations. You see
them standing trim and erect, watch
inc the white mans improvements as il
the sorrow of such things was as much
as they could bear, but they bear il
stoically.
"And Acadians and Micmac Iudians
are ALWAYS associated in my mind
| Perhaps the impression was made or
me when was child and went to ar
Ac,adian wedding in settlement neal
GasPereau. -,
An Acadian servant in our village
took me, and on our way to the church
this girl and 1 stopped at a circular
wioWam at the edge of some woods
We both knew the Micmac Indial
woman and her half breed son, Pierre
Piere's father had been an Acadial
farmer, but he was dead; and as sool
, as the French portion of the famil..
was under ground the Micmac re
nainder took to rowing again. Plerr
and his mother owned a spot of groun'
, which they planted in the spring an
raaned in autumn. Between while
thew took up their lodge and went fish
| ing and hunting.
9'This Acadian wedding was cele
brated in the autumn. though
T Pierre and his mother had come bac
to Gather what they could find on thei
= farm. Pierre had sat on the rampant
of Gaspereau, making arrows for m
brothers. felt kindly toward him an
q wanted him to know the news OF tn
Deiohborhood. So l said:
- .3We are going to wedding, Pierre
DIT am. servant shook her head an
stopped me.
blonse and leather breeches and mocci
sins. He had Il round chin and h
mouth was shut firmly. His eyes wei
not restless, but steady in their gaz
He looked at me all the time we wei
at the lodge without saying word.
felt that he did not like the subject