I. F. Mayo
Courtship and Marriage Amongst Swed- haustible supply of brandy. When the fish is served, A ish Peasants. the speaker makes a short speech.
I recollect the following, although made many years ago:
MONGST the well-to-do peasants in Sweden the proposition of marriage is seldom made by the "My dear friends, we are here assembled together young man in person; but after an object for to celebrate the marriage of Nils Pehrson and Karna his devotion is found-or rather after having found Jonson. Yes, my friends, God said to Adam, It is not one who possesses as much property as himself, or good for man to be alone, and therefore he gave him a more, if possible-his next step is to enlist in his ser- wife. Yes, my friends, these two are now one flesh, and we all hope and pray that their descendants may become as numerous as the stars under heaven and the sands in the ocean; and for this purpose we now drink the health of the married pair." vice some shrewd old woman who will undertake the mission to find out if he would be accepted in case he should propose. If the answer is favorable, the young man will some fine day, dressed in his best suit and mounted on a fine horse, call on the parents of the maiden and make a formal proposal; after the consent of the parents and the daughter, refreshments ing, so that during the festivities the guests can help are taken and the day for the wedding agreed upon, themselves at pleasure, the company now withdraw and a great number of guests are invited, who never fail to bring a good supply of eatables.
Every one now empties his glass. Dinner being finished, but the tables, with their contents, left standto a larger room, prepared for the dancing. The musicians strike up a lively tune, and the ball is opened by the bridegroom and some venerable old lady. He has also to dance with all the ladies present, be they ever so many. Next comes the bride, whose duty it is to dance with all the gentlemen. As many others as can get room now join in, and the dancers are soon in full glory.
Refreshments are served at short intervals; the musicians, soon getting elated, commence to treat the On the day of the wedding, when all the guests are assembled, the procession is formed. At the head are two young men on horseback, next two musicians, playing clarionets; next comes the bride, one of her bridesmaids, and parents; the bride is dressed in a jacket of dark blue cloth, trimmed with black velvet and fastened with large clasps of gold or silver, in the shape of two leaves, below which hang two plate-like pieces, making a jingling sound when the person is in poor violins most unmercifully. Keeping time with motion; skirts of the same material and color as the a stamp of the foot, the dancers increase their speed jacket, with a wide border of black velvet, and a black fearfully, clap their hands, give the boot-heel a slap, silk apron; on her head is a crown made of artificial as a kind of encouragement, and some happy fellow flowers, remarkably high, say from twelve to eighteen will, with the assistance of his partner's strong arm, inches, and very much like a good-sized rosebush; the make a terrible leap, touching the ceiling with his bride and parents riding in a gaily-painted wagon. feet. Dancing, eating and drinking are kept up until Close behind is the bridegroom and a number of his friends, all on horseback, and dressed in dark blue, all the rest of the guests following, either in wagons or on horseback, the young men firing pistols in quick succession. Last of all are several parties armed with large flasks of brandy and enormous pieces of bread, cheese and cakes, attacking every one in their way, and none will refuse their polite invitation to drink to the health of the happy pair.
Arrived at the church or parsonage, the marriage ceremony is performed, and, when over, the procession returns in the same order, perhaps accompanied by the good minister and his family. A few women left at home assisted by the best cooks in the neighborhood, have in the meantime been busy to get dinner ready, which is served on large tables, extending from one end of the room to the other. Here are huge earthen dishes filled with grot, a kind of mush, made of rice boiled in milk, boiled hams, large bowls of soup, called brown soup, made of the blood of geese; wineraisins, prunes, and a number of chickens boiled in it. exhaustion compels them to cease ; and now every one will have to take the best quarters he can get. I recollect on one such occasion an old man, who, either by accident or choice, had mistaken a large deep basket for a bed, and with his head and feet in close proximity, slept soundly till daylight.
On the second day, the speaker takes up a collection for the married couple, and all give liberally, generally money, but sometimes cattle or horses. The second day is a repetition of the first, and in this way it is continued for one, two, and even three weeks.
It is a remarkable fact that no disturbances occur; perhaps an occasional explosion, caused by a careless mixing of gunpowder and matches in the same pocket, may happen. When all the festivities are ended, every one with light heart and heavy head, seeks his own home.
These customs seem very strange to us who live here in America, but if we had been born in Sweden our American marriage customs would have appeared to us equally singular. It makes a great difference as Here are also fish, puddings and cakes, and an inex- to where we are brought up. W.HATHERELE Y On the Bridge where the Rivers meet..
EARS ago, when the wind was low, And the east was dim and gray, And the west was red with the sunset-glow, And the daylight ebbed away, And never a sound came through the night Save the rush of waters fleet, I stood where I stand in the waning light, On the bridge where the rivers meet.
The years have come, and the years have gone And have left their marks on me; But the river unchanged speeds gaily on To the ever-changing sea; The hills are unaltered far and near, And the still scene is complete :
I alone seem changed who linger here On the bridge where the rivers meet.