Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-07

GOOD OLD WEDDING CUSTOMS.

Miss Rich looked up from her sew
ing, the New York Press says, and
thoughtfully surveyed the other mem
Ders OF the Lenten Sewing Club.
There were neither dressmakers, ca
terers, decorators, musicians nor pres
ents-only those two radiantly happy
beings!" Don't be mysterious" the
secretary said, severely. It was think
ing about Molly Randolph's wedding
down in North Carolina" Miss Rich
said. II was bridesmaid, you know"
go on!" commanded the president.
WELL" Miss Rich began, 1.-The we'd
ding was to be at Christmas, and I
went down the first week in Deem
Der. expected to find the house over
run with dressmakers, preparations
going on for bridesmaids luncheons,
rehearsals- all know the chaos
that precedes wedding here-but
everything was calm and peaceful.
Why, Molly l said, you don't
mean to say you have all your sewing
done alreadyp
Deed l have said Molly, all ex-
cept the wedding gown, and they are
going to start on that tomorrow
Then she showed me trunk full
of the daintiest lingerie possible, all
trimmed with priceless real lace-for
the Randolphs were fabulously rich
before the war-and her gowns, too,
were the sweetest things!
why, ! said, enviously, I didn't
suppose you had such swell dressmak-
ers here
'Dressmakersv laughed Molly. 7
couldn't afford such a luxury. made
every stitch of those things myself
Surely thought I, the wedding
gown will be designed by profession
ais Not at all! The they who were
to come the next day to make 1t
proved to be members of the Randolph
family, who gathered from far and
near, each one armed with a thimble,
and instead Of the fuss and bother Of
lot Of strangers in the house, there
we were, just family party
And somehow, as we talked and
sang glees and slipped sillibub handed
about piccaninnies, the loveliest gown
you can imagine evolved itself out of
the India muslin that had been part Of
Molly's mothers rousseau
1T was the same way with the we'd
ding supper. The day before the we'd
ding all the aunties, both black and
white, swarmed about the kitchen,
while we ali helped shell nuts and
stone raisins, and by night, as though
by magic, the pantry shelves were
grooming under the most delicious
cakes, jellies, pates and game pies"
"And what about the music and dec
orations?' asked the secretary.
"a party Of twenty got the green's in
the woods. Inc men cut and we made
the garlands, and together we trimmed
the church. Molly's cousin played the
wedding march, and the bridesmaids
took turns at the piano for the dancing
afterward.
"And oh, I must tell you Of the
quaintest thing Of all! When it came
time to deliver the invitations, we four
bridesmaids, all dressed in white,
drove about in the Randolphs' old, old
carriage, and called in state at each
house, the old negro footman deliver
ing the invitations on silver salver."
weren't there any presents?' asked
the secretary.
"Not what we would call presents.
There were chests of old linen and
family silver from Molly's people, and
the bridegroom gave her diamond
brooch that belonged to his great
great great-something."
II thought diamond sunburst at
least went with every bridegroom"
the president remarked.
mot with Molly's; he's as poor as
q church mousse" Miss Rich replied.
"But they marry just for love down
there, and Molly wouldn't exchange
that old-fashioned brooch for the most
magnificent tiara in New York. She
says it has never been worn by an uIa-
happy woman