The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-27

TO tn-S lne lnUSfNdl was Df16I. Inc UNI
versa1 sentiment of the community IA
vored this. If you are going to marry,
marry were the words of friends and
relations, even parents, with additions
such as these: Don't be dangling along
until people get tired of talking about
you and you get tired Of talking about
yourselves and each ether The BRIDE
groom was always for an early day.
To the bride it often seemed more DEL
cate to have to be persuaded. With
all of the romance all, old and young,
recognized the seriousness of the bust
ness part, for the couple, no matter in
what condition born and reared, were
expected after thfsiiy-six hours to go to
work like other people.
Before sunset guests commenced to
assemble. Ladies' after al.ghting went
lnto the house, ard some busted them
selves with assisting the bride to robe
and the mother in preparing the sup
per table. The men, after tying their
horses to ha.seshoes, swinging limbs of
trees and fence ccrners assembled in
the front yard and discussed neighbof-
hood topics and the prospects of the
couple, Lighting of candles was the
signal that the gerat eventful moment
was approaching. Outsiders hurried in
without delay, each with aim to get as
nigh the couple as possible with special
intent to see how the bride was standing
the racket OF csrlrse, thsy were sure
- -
they often EXPIRE ssed 1t, bold as a sheep.
The first to enter were two little girls
bearing candles in candlesticks bur-
nished to all possible br,ghtn IS. These
We're for the preacher to read clearly
the license authorizing his part of the
business. AS they approached they
separated turned, and he arose and stood
between this m. The ceremony was brscf
in this midst of solemnaty as pnofound
as that at funeral. AT the close the
preacher bestowed a few words of coun-
sel generally, If he were not wholly
without humor, ending about thus:
There are two times when married
woman ought to stay at home-cne is
when her husband is away from home.
Waiting moment or so for her to take
this all in, he added: The other is
when her husband is at home Then
rose laughter from all mouths, for the
jeu desprit, although old as the Oldest,
was ever new for the many things II
was meant to let ga All, Oldest ana
youngest, highest and humblest, shook
hands and spoke hearty congratulations.
When these over and over again repeat
ed were passed, then the supper. tfom
houses miles and miles around had besn
borrowed knives and forks, glasses ana
crockery, chalc3 and syllabub STANDS. Ii
tables could grcan, as some poet i'm
ag.ned, the grief of those beneath old
time wedding suppers must have been
wholly disconsolate what time they were
made to stand and endure. The strong
est Indeed IF 1T could be called sirong)
drink was syllabub, a froth made OF
sweet wine and whipped white 2f eggs.
with those experienced IN grog and
sweetened dram, it required tumbleEs on
tumblers to help down the quantities cm
quantities of good eatables. AT fur-
thest, by 10 o'clock guests were departed
and in a few minutes longer the family,
with ills new addition, retired.
HVet IN all this CAV aSSenlDlaRe Oh
country folk usually, at least quite often,
there was one whose feeling 1t was
touching to note; one who not always,
indeed, whg rather seldom, appeared
elsewhere than in the dining room, ana
not always there unless there We're not
another or. whom with entire trust she
could devolve superlnte noenoe- 10 ner
the loud merry chattings and laussteg'
Unmarried sadness whose relief was silent
PRAYER and tears. Consent to the match,
however unrs served, hopes for the bride,
however Astounding, her prospects, now
ever bztght in the seeming, the ADDITION
of the bridegroom, however welcome
were not enough for the mother in ehs
beginning of that period of change ana
separation 1t was inevitable, yet upon
the goer and her new guide it was ben
ediction. ~.
"Next day came the fnfare, dining CT
not ait convenient distances apart Oh
both families together at the mouse OF
the D11uPRrOOI11 . IDthiSllos II WeA-'
ant to noe the ideas of the complete
coalescence of the two young persons
united in one according to- the laws OF
the Creator and the state. That the
union was to continue throughout Their
iofnt life none ever had doubt, Tor TINS
was regarded as one life, ever INSOFAR
able except by the hand of Him VINO had
ratified and consecrated 1T. There is
vet here and there living man or Wo-
man who remembers the first libel Gas the
suit was named in the laws fcr divorce
in the state and the sentiment OF awe
and repugnance with which Us pubEca-
tion was met by all classes. 1t was
brought in another portion of the stare,
and even to this date has had few sue
ce:rors in middle Georgia.
after the infane the newly married
couple were expected to repair to me
home provided for them. Hencefereh
tbe wife wore upon her head white
cap. both abroad and at home. Almost
without variation her domestic work was
inaugurated by cutting and making,
without assistance from any other,
shirt for her husband. Any bride, how
ever young, would have felt ashamed
of Incompetence for this task. pwelimln-
airy to the others to come in married ex-
istence.'