Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-03-07
WEDDING iNcipeNrs.

that tho romance OF lHo smonB w.
who arc generally regarded ~ reckless
| In the matter Of marriage ID after al 70
strained by dictates Of common prudence.
During the Lancashire cotton famine,
early IN the sixties, had church Ia
Dundee. Tho failure Of cotton OCCASION
ed an abnormal boom In the jute trade
and Dundee Was the principal emporium
| for the import and manufacture OF tine
flexible fiber. IL was then that that
town laid the foundation OF Ito wealth
and greatness. In those prosperous
times marriages were frequent aud IN
the course of few years united In the
sacred bonds Of matrimony . greater
number OF young couples than 10 any
simiiar period during my ministerial
career. A fav0rite fancy OF the MILL
workers was To be married ut the manse,
and was often amused at their lavish
expenditure and love Of display.
One evening had arranged TO marry
couple at the mause, and NJ the time
an elderly friend, recently retired from
q successful business, WAS Staying Win
me and wished to see the ceremony.
Three cabs drove up to the entrance
gate and my room was Immediately filled
with half a dozen couples who constr
tuted the bridal party. The men were
| in full dress black suits, white kid gloves,
buttonhole flowers, with ample display
Of linen and jewelry. The ladies were
dressed In white muslin trimmed with
lace, and decked with flowers and coro.
nets of glitterlng beads. Ii was indeed
gay and snowy scene. MY friend
leaned back In an arm chair In corner
OF the room with his big fingers dove
tailed Into each other lying across his
capaclous waistcoat, aud, transnxe.'
with simple establishment, gazed through
his spectacles that seemed to surround
his eyes with phosphorescent circles.
When the ceremony was over ana the
party had retired my guest pusned nus
spectacles on to his forehead and slap
ping his hands on his knees exclaimed
aWell, that beats all! What are the
working classes coming tor ! had to be
content with humber wedding In my
day, and reckon I could now buy up
the whole mill where these young peo-
pie work. Mark my words, these dart
Youngsters are beginning at the wrong
end OF the tether, and that they Will mud
out some day. You can't make a silk
purse out of q sow's ear" could only
smile at this bit OF philosophy and say
"That Is the order OF the day In Bonnie
Dundee"
On another occasion I was asked to
marry couple In curious out-of-the-
way place In another part OF the country,
about three miles distant from the town
where then resided. found the house
full Of wedding guests, and there were
evident preparations for night OF tes-
tiyity. The bride was modest, shy
looking damsel, with dark, dropping
ewes aud graceful pose Of figure. i was
utterly taken aback by what followed.
As soon as the marriage ceremony was
completed, the bride asked me In = soft,
timid voice: "Please, sir, will you bap-
the the babyy" and at the same moment
one of the women lifted child from the
cradle. In my innocence i asked
"Whose baby Is itY" and the bride, with
face scarlet with bushes meekly
answered, "It's mine, sir" What could
l dor Why should the innocent child be
denied the Christian sacramentf The
infant was placed In the arms OF the
bridegroom father, and with an extra
touch of pathOs that sincerely felt
solemnly commended the babe to the
care of Him who said "Suffer little
children to come unto Me"
have had some experiences OF mar
riages south Of the Tweed. Here there
are no home marriages. The ceremony
takes place In church and Is often Wit
messed BY q large congregation. IL J.
the etiquette for the bridegroom to- he
frat on the spot to welcome the arri'
of the bride. once Oillciated at IN :
rage In the north OF England In Will u
the bride was placed In most tryiny
position. She was led down the churri
by her father, a venerable, hands0m'
looking gentleman, followed BY a bev,
Of bridesmaids, and they took their
places In front of the communion rail
But the bridegroom WAS nowhere to b.
seen aud no one could account Tor his
absence. The church was full OF eager,
interested spectators, and i observed the
rustic aud hutter Of growing excitement
as the whisper went round, "where u
the bridegroom suggested that the
ladies should retire into the vestry, but
the bride declined with gentle frmncs'
as much rs to say: III have come here Il
be married and am not going to run
away. Besides am sure that my be-
loved will be here immediately" But
minutes that seemed drawn out into un'
usual length passed away and he did not
come. Il was time OF intense and
painful suspense. The father and moth.
err fidgeted and flushed, the bridesmaids
were In the nervous borderland between
laughter and crying and the congrega'
ton talked In buzzing whispers. i en-
gagged the bride In conversation and In
duIged In little dlvertlng pleasantly,
"Be brave" said L; "keep up your
heart; don't faint on my account; but
II you wish to indulge In that innocent
luxury do 1t gracefully. Lean youl
head gently on your fathers shoulder
and take care not to disarrange thai
lovely WREATH" She bore up splendldly
and was the most self-possessed OF the
whole party. The crisis was passed Al
the congregation rose to watch the en-
trance of the bridegroom; and he and
the best man, beamlng with satisfaction
walked down the aisle utterly uncOn'
scious that they had been the cause OF
any awkard waiting, and they were botf
astonlshed to find the bride had already
arrived. The ceremony proceeded ID
the usual way and all ended happily
The blunder arose by the driver mud
ding his orders. Instead Of going frs,
for the bridegroom according to his In
structl0ns he went to different part oil
kbe town for the bride.
The putting on Of the WEDDING ring II
an important part Of the ceremony In thu
English service. The ring Is placed OF
the book out of which the service ],
read; and the minister, handing tn,
ring to the bridegroom, instructs him Il
place Il half way on the third finger Of
the left hand Of the bride, and, holding
It there, to repeat audibly the following
formula: "with this ring, token and
pledge of the vow and covenant now
made betwixt me and thee, thee wed
In the name of the Father and OF the
Son and Of the Holy Ghost" 1t Is q
curious fact that though this formula II
usually broken up Into eight fragments
for the sake Of easy repetition It Is rarely
repeated With perfect accuracy. The
great stumbling block IL the phrase,
"Now made betwixt me and thee
Though the words are put Immediately
Into the mouth OF the bridegroom, II ],
Invariably rendered "Betwixt thee and
me. ~ This Il the rule In my experience
II Ia 40 exception when II Ia repeated 40.
curately, "Me and thee."-Glasgow
Herald.