Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-08-21
THE SLAVES MARRIAGE.
HOW THE NEGROES TIED THE
KNOT BEFORE THE WAR.
Pigs and Lambs Wero Barbeoued and
Pies and Cakes Were Baked-The
Preacher Kissed the Dusky
Bride-The Dance.

u WluOW living Ou nSr PldutullOu al
Alabama. / witnessed slave marriage,
says a writer in the Detroit Free Press.
Being a Yankee it was all very new to
me and / have never forgotten the
scene.
Waiting about the house was tall,
slender girl named Lucinda black but
comedy, who was evidently a great ia
vorite with her mistress. The "boy,"
aged about 80, who drove the carriage,
was a stout yellow man, whom my
little charges called "Uncle Jake"
From the many sly love scenes quick
ly discovered that there was an affair
of the heart between Jacob and Luz
cinda. When at last Jacob obtained
the consent of his lady love, he in
formed his mistress that he and Luz
cinda desired to be married. A ready
assent was given.
At once cabin was built for them.
Then began preparations for the we'd
ding. A neat suit Of clothing was
bought for Jacob. The family seam
stress, under the supervision of the
mistress made for Lucinda pretty
white dress. The veil to cover her
dusky charms was omitted, but there
was wreath of white flowers. A
trench was dug in one corner of the
yard. and under the direction Of old
Pompey, grizzled old slave, pigs,
lambs and other meats were barbecued
for the feast Meantime sundry savory
odors issued from the kitchen, where
pies, cakes and such 'feschunary, as
Jake called it, were being baked.
There was a feeling of suppressed ex-
element among the older members of
the household, but the intense interest
of the children, with whom Tinker Jake
was prime favorite found easy ex-
preston. He was the Uncle Remus of
the plantation, who regaled the young
| sters with stories of Brer Fox and Brer
Rabbit, vastly more entertaining than
the classic lore l tried to pour into
them.
The appointed night arrived.
Every slave on the plantation was in
vited and came. there being q sudden
convalescense from all illness. The
bridal party, accompanied by the
guests, came into the hall of the "big
! house, where we were assembled in
waiting. A cClored minister was on
hand, holding carefully a church dis
cipline. Stumbling through the mar
riage service, not by reading, but
through memory-since he could not
read word, although looking intently
at the book-he mumbled the longer
words and omitted the very difficult
ones altogether. But he finally pro-
nounced Jacob and Lucinda man and
wife. He then proceeded to take ad-
vantage Of his privilege as parson TO
salute the bride. l presumed Lucinda
blushed, but it was invisible. Jake's
yellow face darkened, for the preacher
was an old sutton of the bride.
One stril1ingly pretty picture in the
/ scene was that of "holding the cam
dies" Two little girls. daughters Of
the mistress. in white. stood on each
side of the dusky couple and with up
lifted arms held aloft two tall silver
candlesticks, in which burned wax
candles. This, learned, was an i'm
portant part OF a slave marriage,
though no one knew its meaning.
The ceremony over, congratulations
were given and the slaves resorted to
the kitchen. Here a long table was
spread with a supper that did credit TO
Pompey and the cook. A place was
reserved at the head of the table for
the white family. but for fear of en-
barrassing the slaves thisposition of
honor was declined. Whereupon.
Selim, a pompous young man, carried
TO the house and delivered, with many
bows and scrapes waiter of delica-
cies.
Supper over. the kitchen was cleared
and then began the fun. Pompey.
who was a man of many trades,
brought out his fiddle. while another
slave produced a banjo, and, after
much tum-tumming in the way OF
tuning. the dulcet tones of "Old
Zip Coon" hoated out on the air, ac-
companied by the shrill call of the
prompter. the stamping of feet and
clapping of hands. The church men,
bers, who looked on dancing as the
DEVILS work, departed as soon as sup
per was over, while the whites stood
and looked on through doors and win
dows. Jake was immensely relieved
when the dancing drove the parson
from the room. The bride was the
belle of the evening. The dancing it
is impossible to describe. Suffice it to
say that Selim, who jumped highest,
crossed his feet oftener and held out
longest. bore off the palm and called
forth shouts of applause.
Towards day the sound of the lively
music the loud call of the prompter
and the beat of feet ceased, the man
and his wife were escorted to their
new home and the festivities were
over.