The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1911-05-24
A Legend
By SUSAN YOUNG PORTER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

In the year A. d. S75 at a Maying
party In Suffold county. England, a
young Saxon yeoman saw a girl dane
ing with others about Maypole So
graceful was she, her eyes were so
blue, her hair, glistening in the sun
light and tossed about with every STEP
was so fair, so happy was her smile. so
melodious her laughter, that the young
man was enraptured.
John Boylan was a strapping youth
who could send an arrow into the
core Of an apple at 200 yards and had
already borne pike in the cause of
his king, Edmond, against the Danes,
having been with his sovereign on the
fatal day when he was defeated and
his reign came to an end. Johns ia
Their had since died and left him pos
session Of the farm. consisting of 500
acres in land, with many cows, sheep,
pigs and other cattle. His mother had
died before his father. and he had no
brothers or sisters.
And so 1t was that when John saw
the graceful Ethelreda dancing about
the MaypOle he bethought himself how
happy he would be If he might take
her home to live with him. Straight
way he went to her father and said to
him:
Il wish your daughter to WIFE, l
have my own farm and cattle, but |
ho To Al
keep me company when | have done
my work or to have care Of my es-
tate when 1 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
be has no wife to milk the cows or
have a care Of the sheep or feed bis
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 will get
ready for the wedding"
Ethelreda knew this to be a COM
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 wed
ding.
1t was but a 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 it they were obliged to pass
over a bridge across a small stream
called Goldbrook. This they did, MAX
ing merry the while, though when
they were halfway over John stopped,
and shudder passed over his stalwart
frame. But whatever the cause he
conquered 1t 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 1t appear that a newly
married couple would be happier. But
hnr ho6
before a band of robbers ran off with
the best Of Johns cows. Then in the
summer, during a thunderstorm, the
lightning struck the house and well
nigh demolished 1t. In the autumn q
snOwstorm such as had never been
known before in England covered
Johns sheep. and very few came out
alive. The next spring a 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:
'In the year of our Lord $40 Kine
Edmond. having been defeated by the
Danes. hid In 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 hidshimself under this bridge over
Goldbrook stream. That night a wed
/ ding party passed over the bridge
The moon sbone down from the heav
ems. One of the throng espied its rays
shining on the kings golden spur. and,
going down under the bridge. they saw
him crouching there. He was deliv,
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 to Bury
St Edmunds and inferred there"
The disconsolate husband. having
finished this inscription. wrote beneath
1t In large letters:
Cursed 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
have passed over 1t. No part Of the
curse is to be seen. 1t has been hand
I