The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-20


In the year A. d. s75 at a Mayins
party Ia suaold county, England. d
young Saxon yeoman saw a girl dane.
ihs with others about Maypolc. So
graceful was she. her eyes were %
plue her hair glistenlng in the sun.
hght and tossed about with every stem.
was SO fair, 50 happy was her smr 30
melodious her laughter. that the young
man was eufaptured
Joan Boylan was STRIPPING youth
who could send an arrow into the
core of an apple at 200 yards and had
already borne a pike IN the cause Of
MS king, Edmcpd, against the Danes.
having been with his sovereign on the
Iatal day when he was defeated and
MS reign came to an end. Johns IA.
ther had since died and left him nos.
session OF the farm. consisting OF 800
acres In land, with many cows, sheep.
pigs and other cattle. His mother had
uled before bis father, and he had no
brothers or sisters.
Ana so It was that when John saw
the graceful Ethelreda dancing about
the Maypole he bethought himself how
happy be would be II he might take
her home to live with him. Straight.
way ne went to her father and said 10
him:
wish your daughter 70 wife.
have my own farm and cattle. but
nave no one to milk the cows or 10
Keep me company when have done
my work or to have a care Of my es-
tate when ! have gone into the forest
TO hunt or am called upon by my lord
TO do battle. l therefore pray you to
give me your daughter"
SO the father knowing OF Johns
wealth. called his daughter and, point
Ing to the young man. who was at the
time leaning on his bow, said to her:
This man has his own farm and his
cows and his sheep and his pigs. but
he has no wife to milk the cows or
have a care OF the sheep or feed his
pigs when he is in the forest hunting
or doing service In war for his suze-
rain. Therefore he has asked me for
you to be his wife, and you win get
ready for the wedding"
Ethelreda knew this to be CON-
mand, and any command from her
father she would not think OF disobey-
ing. She cast only one shy glance at
John when the word wife was spoken.
and. seeing the tall, well formed young
man looking kindly upon her. she gave
him her heart at once and went away
to begin her preparations for the we'd
ding.
II was but few weeks after this
that bridal party of which John and
Ethelreda were the principal figures,
left the church where they had been
married and started for Johns home.
To reach # they were obliged to pass
over a bridge across a small stream
called Goldbrook This they did. maxi
ing merry the while. though when
they were halfway over John stopped,
and a shudder passed over his stalwart
frame. But whatever the cause be
conquered it and passed on with the
same light step as before
The wedding was celebrated with
feasting and dancing. the singing of
Ministries and games. all OF which were
customary at weddings in that day, /
after which the bride and groom went |
back to Johns farm.
Never did it appear that newly |
married couple would be happier. But |
they had not been together week
before d band Of robbers ran of with |
the best Of Johns cows Then In the
summer, during thunderstorm, the
lightning struck the house and well
nigh demolished 1t. In the autumn a
snowstorm such as had never been
known before In England covered +
Johns sheep. and very few came out
alive. The next spring baby was
born to the couple. but it died a few
hours after its birth, and its mother
went with It,
Then John went out to Goldbrook
stream and cut an inscription on the
keystone to this effect.
'Tn the year Of our Lord $40 King
Edmond. having been defeated by the
Danes, hid ia the branches Of the oak
tree standing close by this bridge.
There be remained during the day and
at nightfall came down from the tree
and hid himself under this bridge over
Goldbrook stream. That night we'd
ding party passed over the bridge.
THE moon shone down from the heav-
ems. One of the throng espied It's rays
shining on the kings golden spur and,
going down under the bridge, they saw
him crouchlng there he was deliT-
cred to his enemies. who, leading him
to the tree in which he had hidden |
during the day. filed him full Of ar
rows. His body was borne 70 Bury
st. Edmunds and inferred there
The disconsoiate husband, having
finished this inscription. wrote beneath
II in large letters:
aCursed Be the Wedding Party That
Passes This Bridge"
Whether John placed the record OF
the event on the bridge is not certain.
It IS there today after ten centuries
hive passed over IT. no part OF the