Year: 1871

his scarf, as II afraid OF solling ms al
ready grimy fingers, and lead them
three times around the reading desk,
the scene struck me as so absurd that |
could scarcely keep my face straight. |
felt still more convulsed when one OF
the soldiers brought out what seemed
to be a silver pap-boat, and admins
tered three spoonfuls of gall and honey
or what passed as such-to each al
ternately. What the priest read, and
what he omitte l. don't know, he read
so rapidly; | only know that in ten
minutes he had finished what usually
takes full half hour, and had pro,
nounced the pair man and wife; at all
events, the essentials had been accom-
plished. The cross and gospel were
kissed by all, and the ceremony was at
an end.


We rendered our congratulations to
the Baron and Baroness, packed up the
wedding-candles as souvenirs, along
with the brides wreath and veil, leav-
ing the square of crimson silk as the
perquisite of the priest, resumed our fur
coats, and were about to depart, when
the priest again came forward with con-
gratulations, and extended his dirty
hand. For the trouble of waiting so
long," he said, in reply to the blank
look of the Baron. A tive-ruble note
was hastily pressed into his hand which
he received with a bow, a qualification
given to each of the soldiers, and we
were free to go.


1t is the custom in Russia for the
wedding feast to be given by the bride
groom at some restaurant or hotel, but
Madame Crazant had so desired to give
quiet little dinner at her own house.
that it had been decided to give up the
greater festivity. Leaving the rest of
the party to 90 straight on with Ma
dame Crazant, Feodor took me along
with him to lay in a supply of pate de
tois gras and other delicacies suitable for
the occasion. Wedding cake is un-
known in Russia, and a wedding feast,
therefore, differs from no other as to
the constituent parts. When, half an
hour after, we had traversed the city
and reached Madame Crazants door,
we found three of the party standing
nearly frozen with the cold and white
with the fast falling snow. The only
servant of the establishment had gone
off to some of the neighbors, and had
locked up the house. Madame had
gone off in search. We tried doors and
windows, but there was no entering,
and we could only stand and shiver.
At last the door was opened, and Ma
dame at the same time returned. We
were heartily glad of the warm rooms,
and fell to with will on the zdkuska,--
caviare and little glass of brandy
the invariable preliminary to Russian
meal Even the ladies did not disdain
this method of restoring their circula-
ton. Madame looked little grave as
we took our places at the table, and
while we were finishing our soup, she
informed us that the rest of the dinner
was probably spoiled. The delays we
had had, and the negligence of the ser
want while gossipping in the neighbor.
hood, had caused everything to be we'll
burned up; and instead of juicy roast
beef and tender fowl, we had literally
dried bones Fortunate it was for us
that we had made our little excursion
to the shops of comestibles on the
Smiths Bridge. for what we had brought
home was really all we had to eat, save
a delicious salad. We, however, laughed
down our disappointment, and We're as
merry as we could be while we drank
the health of the Baroness, in order to
soothe the feelings of Madame Crazant,
who naturally felt very much mortified
at having asked us to stich an unstlb-
stantiM meal. - H. :. a aflfl Do "HA


The poor bride all this time looked
distressed, and could not be cheered
up. Not even the wine seemed to
warm her, and our gayety was restrain
ed and quieted down by her sadness.
While we gentlemen were slipping our
coffee, the secret was revealed. Her
dress was much too tight, and it be-
came necessary for Madame to retire
with her to the adjoining room, unlace
her, and rub her vigorously to prevent
her fainting away. When the Baroness
had recovered, and appeared once more
in looser attire, we all begged Feodor,
who was an excellent and accomplished
musician, to give us some music. bis
violin was brought out but, alas he
had forgotten the key at his hotel, and
Madame had no piano. Thinking that
change of scene might bring change
of spirits to the party, urged them all
to come to my house for tea. had
piano there, and Feodor could stop on
the way for his key, and we could make
one last attempt to be " merry as mar
riage bellsn All felt certain name
less something where they were, and all
gladly accepted my proposition. The
bride said she would go home and
change her dress, and her friends
would come on with her and join us IN
half an hour.


The eagerness with which my invita-
ton was accepted made me reflect on
my precipitation. A bachelors house
is not always in order, and / began to
think that perhaps something there
might be disarranged, and thus another
scene added to this comedy of errors.
begged permission, therefore, to &C
straight home to make preparation
Fortunately, everything was in order


but still an irruption of this sort in
small house always causes a commotion
Arkadi went off in post-haste to the
bakers, and flew about in her anxiety
to have the samOver we'll boiling ano
the table spread At last my guests
arrived, and 7 can truly say my tea wat
the best part of the elopement. W.
had songs, and our fortunes told by mi
old Avdotia, and got merrier and mer
rier; and it was past one o'clock wher
the wedding party bade me good night
; have seen the Baron since, and


don't think he ever regrets the mar
riage that was contracted under sucl
ill auspices and with 80 many littl