I
Vwffilv $cil ('
!
i -
1 a x. W IMI1C, editor and 1'ubtUhcr
HE IS A FREEMAN WHOM THE TRUTH MAKES FREE, AND ALL ARE SLAVES BESIDE
Terms, per year In advance.
r-
VOLUME 6.
Htlnv JSVdwti$f!ttfU$. I
I HOLLIDAYSEURG, PA., SEMINARY.
! lit-,. JONKI'II W AICH, Principal.
f SPUING TEKMIBEGIXS APRIL 1st.
1 :-m oful. Thorough. Economical, Healthful.
1 n ,i l.-t n.l mot reliable Institution forob-
i !',,mi. i 'Mi-ri-aiiiilo KoucMtlon. Practical busl
i ..'. iu-trm-tors. For information, write
I Inr a i -ii "li'l.ir " l m "' 4 S,N8' Plttst)urh,Pa.
MlKAi' FA1SMS! FKEE HOMES!
y ON TUB LINK OF THI
(
IXIOX 1'itiriC RAILROAD.
k 1AM' tilt NT OK
12 000,000 ACRES
' I N THB
Arifs In Kebratka !
I.N Tilt
I tRL'lT I'LATIE VALLEY,
J THK
I ,aliI)i:N OF THE WEST,
I .vo AJlt.'
Th !;iifN are in the central portion of the
f'tui.-.l st.ttes. on the 41st deirrue uf North Lat
I mi, Ii-. ih.- rentrul line of the irreat Temperate
! .rn ul tin- American Continent ami for grain
; j. run i'lir ;irui stuck raiding unsurpassed by any
in the I ' 1 1 1 1 ! JMutrs.
i liKAl Ki: IN PK1CE. more favorable terms
i ! n. uinl more convenient to market than Cull
t e teiui l elsewhere.
Free Homesteads for Actual Settlers.
iiik i;kt locations kou ciusiks
.v. .;.'. i Kntitlrd to a Hoinrstcud of IttO Aeren.
t ree IiJ"e to Piirrhnnrra of l.micl.
Semi for the New liescriptive T'Miiiphlet, with
new mups, published in Knjrlisli. (it-ruian,
,eiljh and Danish, mailed free everywhere.
AiMiess O. F. 1AV IS.
Laud Commissioner, L". I'. It. K. Co.,
Omaha, Neb-
EXTRAORDINARY IMPROVEMENTS
CABINET ORGANS !
The Mason A- H ami. in )iu;an C). respectfully
announce the introduction of improvements of
much more thiui ordinary interest. These are
KKED AND PIPE CABINET OHGAXS,
i-xi'r the only successful comblnotion of HEAL
i imiks with reeds ever made;
! 1AVS TKANSPI.IS1XO KEYBOARD,
1 v.liieli can be instantls-moved to the risrht or
j lilt, iliminir ttie pitch, or transposing the key.
' I'm- iliui' i.ik" n tut dexcrijitiuiiit. M: t'irtuliirs.
' MW AMI KLKCANT HTVI-KS OKI,
lull III. U UK ED CAUINET lUCJAXS,
nt 1 ei. ):.' ami each. onxiderinu f 'tiHiritu,
i-;i,v.ii,(,. Jlnmnmh h'Atituitre of IVoihinait
. , (. it.-.,, mi- i i.vijwr than mni hrfurt offrre.il.
i The .f.n. A; 11 ami. in Ut-frana are acknowl
i ) lil.s I . and from extraordinary facilities
' i r ni iiiiil.n-tiire this Company can afford, and
$ i .. ue.. (f.f.f toscllat priecswhich rend-rthem
rv,M'T'TIX.IU.Y CHEAPEST.
f U l HT AV KOlir.ANS .V)l'l'h; riVK OCTAVE or-
I i. ns flKi. li"iiinil upwards. Willi Direr wfn rer.iit
J I.'hI uuil upwards. h'nrt h ntuleK, no to 1500 etcli.
) Nf.W Il.l.rSTHATFl) (.'ATI liniE. KIKl Tkstimo-
M i. Clin i'I.ah. with opinions of M MtE THAN
j ONETHOL'SAMl MI SICIANS, M-iit free.
.V.4.SO.Vt .4.VL.Y itlid AS ft)..
.'.4 Tieinont St.. Doston. 5!H llroadway, N. Y.
P0RT.1BLG S0II1 FOOATAIKS
SilO, XO, $75 and $IOO.
4.0OI) -DIIHAHLE. AND CHEAP!
I tmrrED ready foii use!
MAKCFACTCBED BT
) J, W. CHAPMAN &. CO., Madison, Ind.
v SEND FOB CIKCULAU.a3
i.Vt OJil'OJtATLJ JSOO.
Columbia Fire Insurance Co.'
KFICEKS AND DIUECTOUS.-S. S. DetwK
I't. 1'res'i ; II. Wilson, Vice-l'res't ; Herbert
'1 inMiias, Treas'r; .1. F-- Frueauff, Sec'ry ; S. S.
Detwiier, iliratn Wilson, Robert Crane, Wm.
i'.ittcin.john Ii. liacbman. M. M. Strickler,Jaeob
S St l ine, .las. Sehroeder.Geo. Bojrle, W.G.Case,
Amos K. Kv-. John Schertzer. H. B. Essick.
I or Insuranee or Apeneies, address
f J- JtUJAL J-; Sec'ij, Columbia, Fu.
iT-BF.FOKE ASr KING Torn LIFE, examine
kthe new Tontine Savings Fund plan, just
introduced by the V;yriTAlH.E LIFE ASSUK-
Nt'K SOCIETY OF NEW YOKK, by which an
eiKiowmciit polieyisjfianted at aliout h)f rates.
End ot luycmrH, 104 per ct. of premiums return'd.
" 2tl " 201 "
X.-w lnisiiie.ss. !ST1. fll.nilO.000. lurirest
Asset f ISi.OOD.UBI I Inctime s.uti,ci)u
ltcliablc Aifents anted everywhere. Aoriress
I. E. KEG ISTF.lt. General AKent,
CilEdTN L'T ST., I'hiladelphia.
t: rpnmlr oIller ! I'nexel ; or, T7i
S E.-innU Sohtisr. The Thrillinir Adventures,
l".periences and Escapes of a Woman as Spy.
s.-out and Nurse, in Camps, Battle Fields and
H.-pitals, IZ full-pajreil illustrations, and por-
inn on steel. This absorliinir book, elegantly
ii n-rrated. crown 8vo.. and beautifully bound
! in cloth, richly ornamented in black and frold,
i-s.,l only hv uibscription. Price -5. 1'hil-
'' 'j-.'iii lhiaiiAtiimj ' ., I'hiladelphia, Pa. The
A j. nt who first send lJi" for outfit will get the
territory for this fast-selling book.
r CARPENTERS, BUILDERS, "a
and all who contemplate Ituildinir .supplied with
ur new I II list rated Catalogue on receipt stamp.
. . f I . ...... . I : . . . ,
ii a , rciiutn'iurai
i.... l- '. vv-. x- a-
N.Y.
AGENTS WANTED FOK
T
AND
ERISATIOW
OF NEW YORK.
-t n i-i i;k descmptive of the cm-OF YElr
YnXK in all it. VA UlOUS P1IA SES.
' ' . ' lorsand wretchedness; its hijfh and low
!': i'- marble palaces and dark dens; its at
' n i-.tisand dangers; its King and I'miKli:
i! l-'a.iituf men and politicians; its adven-t'u'T-;
it charities; its mysferics and crimes,
lini-tnited with Nearly 2S Fine EiiKravinjrs.
t,,r( ircultirx.with trrmxanilafuU (lencrif
' ,.i a,, ik. Sot ion, it I'uhl'xIiinijCo., Pbil'a.Pa.
i 'e!i the Improved Florence Sewinir Machine.
.tJ'iiiur ilifferent xtitelu.
Hun the work four vyii.
v ,, ,, , ynti:n it own emU.
"r li'-uut v. Simplicity and Durabilityjis with
in . -.jii:t. Liberal term. SaiesriMtm. No.
'it ' hestHut Street, l'ltitatlll,l,it j-,,
W I j.si N i li:NN' YPACK EH, Managers.
Piano Co., N.Y. 1st class S0. No Agents.
w. Names of iatrons la 40 States In Circular.
GUNDURANGO.
I'-I.I.ss. KEP.XE & CO.'S FLUID EXTKACT
'"r-sfaneer, S rnf uhi. Svphilis.Catarrh, Kheu-
His iii. Xeural.riu Piiliiunirtre :nmiilaiuts.
iilt Itheuiu, Skin Diseases, all Blood
'Vo' ,s l"'r,'l.v vegetable. The belt km urn
' '"-"in. Sold by all Dru -gists. Price. f3
ir. ' '"serve the to de mark. ISend for
''4r. Oflicc, oit Cedar t , Kc w York.
REWARD
For any ease of Blind,
Bleedinir, Itchino- !or
Icerated Piles that Ito
Utnu'g I'ilellemedu fails
to curt. It is prepared
Vrw, ti.oi'. ' Sol1 bya11 Drmrjisu.
- ciurcKiiT to cure rna
i fioo
a 1IIRHHI
P. R. R.
RADVAY'S HEADY RELIEF
tlKES THi WORST PAINH
In from One to Twenty Minutes.
NOT ONE HOUR
Wtar readme this :ulverticinetii ,,tv& any on
suffer with pain. r
KADWAT-8 SgERELl,Erslb A CURE FOB
Itwrnsthettrst audi
fain Remedy
inat InataoUy Mop. iu moat txcruolatlnit pain, allara
luflumniatloDa, ud cure Corgcstlona, whether of tf.a
Luars, Stomack, ilowaia, or tiUicr Kiaada or onua. Ly
Oil apiihcation.
I FROM TO TWINTY MIXtTTES.
5P'r how violent or xi-ruchuing tb. pnin th
KHEL MATIC, Bedridden. ludrm. Crippled, Xervoua
A.uialKic, or pruatntted with diavaau uy autfer,
RADWAY'S READY RELIEF
WILL AFFORD INSTANT EASE,
INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS.
INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDEH
INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS.
CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS
SORE TUROAT. DIFFICULT BREATHING 8
HYSTERICS, cfcKOTHg&I" HEARX
HEADAcne. ToornAcCHVTAKKU'
NEUUALGIA, KIIEUMATISM
COLD CHILLS, AGUE CHILLS? '
TUa application of tha Ready Rcller to the part or
paru where the pain or difficulty uuu will aJfurd ut
and comfort.
Twenty drop In half a tumbler of water will In a few
momenta cure CRAMPS, SPASMS. Sot'R STOMACH
HEARTBURN, SICK H EADA. HE. DIARRHEA
IY!ENTERY, COLIC. WIND IX THIS BOWELS?
and all INTERNAL PAINS.
Travelers aliuulU al wayi curry a tiottle of BaJwat'i
Ready Relief with then. A few droi a in water ill
preveat aickneaa or paina frftm change of water. It W
Ie.ter thmu French Biuidy or lSiticrs u a iinnj; ; t.
r FEVEIl AXIS AGUE.
FEVER AND AGUE cured f ir fifty centa. Tlierela
not a remedial aeut in thia world tlmt will cure Fever
a id Ague, and all other Malarious, billoua. Scarlet, Tv
phold. Yellow, and iher Keverx (aided by RADWAY'S
PILLS) ao quick aa RADWAY'S READY RELIEF.
Filly ccnu per U-ltle. bold by DrugguU.
HEALTH !BEfiUTY ! !
STRONG AND TURK TtlCII BLOOT 1NCREA5K
OK FLESH AND WEHiHT-CLEAR feKlN AND
LEAUTlr CL COMPLEXION tEC L RhJJ TO ALL.
DR. RADWAY'S
SARSAPARILLIAN RESOLVENT
HAS MADK THE MOST ASTONISHING PCRES ;
ti yncK. HJ RAI'lD ARE THE CHANUES
THE BODY rSl'KWiOFS. UNDER THE IN
FLUENCE OF THIS TRULY WONDERFUL
MEDICINE, THAT
Every Day an Increases In Flesh
and Weight is Seen and Felt.
THE GREAT BLOOD PURIFIER.
Every drop of the SARSAPARILLIAN RE.OLV
ENT communicates through the Blood. Sweat, Urine,
and other fluids and juice f the system the vitor of life,
for it repairs the wastes of the body with uew and sound
niateri:u. Scrofula, vphlUs, Consuinptioii. Glandular
di.ea.ie. Ulcers In the Throat, Month, Tumors. Nodes In
t i. Giands and other l arta of the y.M.t ni, S-.r Eyes,
Strumous Ihwhar; a from the Kara, and the worst
forms or fektn tliaesve, Kruptions. rever Sores, scald
Head. King Worm, SSalt Kheuui. Erysipelas, Acne, Black
Fltois. Worms ia the Flesh. Tumors. Cancers in the
Mas, Acne, Ulack
Cancers in the
Womb, and all weakening and painful discharges. Night
Sweats. Liss of tinerin. unit all wates of the life Drim l-
ple, re wiihin Uio curative rane of this wonder of Mod
era ChemUtrr, anil a frw days' use will prove to any
person U.-.IUK It tor eithir of these forms of diaeauc its
porent power to cure th in.
If the patient, dally lieeomine redneed by the wastes
and decomposition that is continually progressing, suc
ceeds in arrestiiiK thee wastes, and rei.ajr. tlie same with
new material mvle from healthy blood and this the
fcARSAPAHILLIAN will and does secure.
Not otily does Ihe Sa ana r AKtLLiAif Rihultkt eel
aM known remedial amenta in the cute of Chrome. Scrofu.
l.rjs, t'oustitutiouiU, and tkiu diseases; but ilia the only
Bu.iiive cure for
fitdncr alladdcr Compimnif,
Urinary, and Womb disease!!. Gravel, Diabetes. Dropsv,
Ftoppate of Water. Incontinence of Urlue Brlcht's
e-te. Alhuiniunria. and In all eues where there are brick
dust depo-ut. or th. water Is thick, cl' iidy, mixed with
substances like the white of an rgf, or threads like white
silk, or there is a morbid, dark, bilious appearance, aud
white boue-diiH deposits, and when there u a prirkirg,
burning sensation when paxeinc water, and pain In the
iMiiil of the Bi. k and nluuj tue Louis, l'licc, ti-eo.
WORMS. The oily known and sure Remedy
f ir Hvi ntM J im, Tup, etc.
Tumor of 12 Years Growth
Cured by Rudway'g Resolvent.
Ktvnar. Urn., Jaly 18. 169.
rill. Rtnvir : f have fiut Ovarian Timor ia th. onrlM and
bowels. All ta. tXxua ai4 41 Ui. r. m, sw h.lp for it. " J rld
very thine that was rrMiiiiMadr4 ; tint .othinir helped m. 1
imte your Risaolvent, and thoaicfat I would try it ; bat had no fsith
la it, bmaun. I bad suffered for twelve years. I look six bottle,
of the Resolvent, and one box ef KWwar'l Pills, and two net
tles of your Ready Kellef ; and there is not a ii-Q W tauvr to b.
seea or felt, sad I feel better, sinartetr, at;d hafpter tnaa I have
fortwelvs years. Tlie worst tumor was In the left side of the
bowels, war toe srr.i n. I writs this to yua lot tha beocLt of
oUurs. Vwa eau publish it if yoa choose.
HANNAH 1. KNAPP.
DR. RADWAY'S
PERFECT PURGATIVE PILLS,
perfectly tasteless, elegantly coated with sweet gum.
purge, regulate, purifv, cranae, an 1 alreugthen. Bad
way a Pills, for the cure of all disorders of tlie Mctnach,
Liver, B iweln. Kidneys, Bladder. Nervous Piseascs,
Headache, Conciliation. Cuotivenese. Indigestion.
lyst! sia, B liou-neaa. Bilious Fever, Inf munsthm of
the Bow, 'la. Pilea,aid all Pcranyen-entaof the Internal Vis
cera. Warranted to effect a positive cure. Purely Vegeta
ble, containing no mercury, mlnerahi, or deleterious drugs.
I if Ohserve the following symptoms resulting from
Disorders of the Dip-estiva Oreaiis :
Constipation, Inward Piles, rullnesa of the Blood la the Head,
Ariiiitv of the Suti.h, Nausea, llrurt'ura, liiripist of Knod,
Fullness or Weiht in the Stomneh. 8ur tCnsL-tattmis. finking or
Klatteringat the Pit of the Stonrarh, fsimmjie of the Ht-ad,
Hurn.'l and fifnult HreatHin, Klultering' at the Hoart. Choking
or Sutfiicating Sensations wbaa In a Lyirg l'oftiire. riininei-s of
Vision. iJuts or Wsbt before the iSight,' Kever and Dull I'aiu ia
the Head, Ilvflriaucy of Persitrali'n, Yelluwtiess of the likia
?d ty-., P-u. .u the Side, Cbest, Lluibs, aud suj.lea ( lushes of
te.i fnTmaTTthe BT-SW J.! ni fre. th. svs
IxTbnt. (SOLD BY IRLiii ISTS."" "cv. as cems
READ -FAI.SF. AND TRUE." Send on. letter.
,n in. Fiesn.
stamp to RAnWAV A CO.. No. 87 Maid -mi Lane, New
Vork. Infisrmation worth tiiouaauiis wi,d be sent you.
THE WORLD I HlLIJiMilill
TO 1'RODl'CE ITS Fttl AL!
TAYLOR & CO.. of Altoona, are fast
tfainlnir an enviable reputation as philan
thropists by iutroducinu; amoiitr the ladies the
AMERICAN CHAMPION WASHER I
the only Washinti Machine in the market that
will do its work perfectly on all kinds of cloth
ing without the aif of a rubbiatr board.
It washes without rubbinsr. roiliny; or press
inir the clothes in any way, aud heuce without
anr wearintr of the fabric.
It will wash anything, from the finest lace to
the heaviest ed-quilt. . .
It will do the same work in a shorter time and
with less labor than any other Machine made.
Any person desi.intr a Washinjr Machine can
have a Champion Vashertaktn to their resi
dence" and tested, when, if not satisfactory, it
will be taken away without cost to them.
CONVINCING TESTIMONY".
Messrs. Taylor & Co. Gent: Your Ameri
can ChrtiTipion Washer has been in use at my
hotel lonir enough to convince us that it is all
it claims to be. It save two-thirds of the labor
and time and does the work as well as it f oe
done by hand. We would not be without it for
double its cost. I1IENKY FOS1 EK.
Ebensbui-fr, March 20, 'Ti. Cambria House-
tiT Manufactured and sold by Taylor & Co.,
No. 110 Twelfth Street, Altoona. and for sale
by V.J.UTTHINGEIt,
March 23, 1872.-3m. Main St.. Ebcnaburg.
piCK E RSEL L, LYONS & CO.,
Manufacturers and Dealers in-
LOOKING CLASSES
Tine Mantel and Pier Looking Glasses and Pic
ture Frames a specialty.
-1. 141 Wood St., ritlsborifli, Pa. 3m.
M. B. COCHRAN,
PlTTSBCKOH, PA
Iertlrr In Iron mid Wood WorUinsr Wo
rliinerr and Mannfartnrr' NupillK
has eon'sUntly on band a complete stock or
Smith's Sash and Door Machinery, Judson Gov
ernors, Taps and Dies, Emerv Vv heels, Beltlngr,
I'acklnir, A c. Woodwo-th'S Plaihrh a special
ty. Send for Circulars and Prices. t3-.-3m.
J. J. OATMAN, M . D. ...
.If. J. BUCK, M. r.
O ATM AN & BUCK,
Pby.lelans and HarBens.
Carrolltown. Pa.
Office in rear of John Buck's store. Night
calls may be made either at the residence of
Dr. Oattnan or at John Buck's residence.
AGENTS Wanted. Agents make more mon
ey at work for us than anything else. Busi
ness light and permanent. Particulars free.
G. Stinsow Co., Ftrw Art Publishers, Port
land. Maine.
EBENSBURG, PA., SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1872.
A WELSH HOUSE WEDDING.
A Welsh Horse Wedding of the olden
time belonged peculiarly ti the yeomen,
aad was customary when churches were
scarce, and marriages in chapels and re
gister offices were not by law established.
It was truly a public ceremonial, and
caused much excitement amongst the
mountains The farmer of a century ago
was as primitive as the peasant, and the
manners and customs of each were equal
ly original. In nothing did this show
more decidedly than ia the Horse Wed
ding.
As soon as the day was fixed the whole
country was astir nothing else was talked
of. No telegraphic messages were needed
to convey the news from farm to faim.
The very hills proclaimed it, the sheep
bleated it, the winds whispered it. Evan
and Gwen were to be ui.ited, and Nature,
animate and inanimate, rejoiced.
To understand peculiar customs, one
must live amongst the people. To ap
preciate a Horse Wedding, one roust, at
least, imagine te scene which originated
it ; probably a farmstead amongst the
hills, surrounded by trackless downs,
foaming torrents, primeval oaks, greeu
lands, or curn-fielda ; and near it, possi
bly, an old British encampment, or some
gigantic stone, pointing backwards, with
imperishable finger, to the Bards aud
Druids.
Hence were cent invitations to similar
farmsteads and all respectable dwelling
houses, whether tenanted by gentle or
simple, for miles around. An old man.
possibly of bardic desccit, was chosen as
the bearer. He cariied in bis hand a
statf, covered with roany-celored ribbons,
which he planted on the threshold of
each house as he delivered his message.
Ill is whs in rhyme. He bade all the in
mates to the wedding, in verses, which
he sang, intoned, or crooned, according
to his capabilities and inspiration of the
moment. His song was euitab'e to the
ind welters, and breathed of love and life
for the young, marriage and happiness
for the old. The Cymry, like the Italians,
were improvis-'torL The old man, bis
ribboned staff, and impromptu invitations
were poetical and graceful.
Oa the wedding morning the heusc
hold of the mountain farm would be astir
a, daybreak ; so would be the friends and
neighbors, lor early in the morning arrived
the in jruvl:atori. These native poets,
who a lew tent urea eatlier would have
been calhid 'Bards,' and were then styled
4iSeek Outs,' placed themselves on either
bide of the close door. There tliey began
their lyric measure. They poured out
praises of llie bride and her family ; they
invited her forth ; they described the
beauty of the morning or tbe surround
ing scene ; they extemporized by turns,
until their subject and their rhythmical
powers were exhausted. Meanwhile the
party of the bride arrived. Trampling of
horses strong guttural Celtic laughter
jests interrupted the flow of verfo. AH
were on horseback, and the yard and
stables were fulL At the s.j.me moment
similar pioceedings were enacted at tbe
bouse of the bridegroom, it might be at
a neighboring farm.
At lust the door unclosed, and the
bride appeared, trembling and blushing,
accompanied by her father. The strains
were answered tho '.Seek Outs' had
fouud. Noisy congratulations followed ;
then the swiftest horse was chosen, and
saddled, bridled and pillioned. The father
mounted ; the bride was lifted, or lifted
herselt, on n. him s,
clasped her arms round him, and they
rode off. The bridal party lollowed,
consisting of men, women and children,
some riding single, some double, like the
bride and her father. They clattered
through the yard, and from fifty to a
hundred horses galloped after the bride.
Oa some neighboring hill top and at about
tbe same time, tbe bridegroom and a
similar company left his abode, he rid
ing tbe best borso that he could com
mand.
Imagine two torrents pouring down
from two separate mountains, and meet
ing somewheie in the valley below, and
you have an idea of these impetuous
equestrians. 0'er brake and o'er briar,'
through firm stones and through loose
stones, down hill and across date, into
brook or fordable river, they dabbed helter-skelter,
until the two parties encoun
tered. Then began the race for tbe
Bride.
She and her father were ever foremost,
the bridegroom and his party behind ; but
all rode as if riding for their lives It was
a dangerous wedding pastime. There
might he as many as a hundred horses,
and they, as horses will, however sedate,
got into the spirit of the chase, frober
hacks, lumbering farm-horses, steady
cobs, frisky ponies, kicking mare, even
broken-winded hunters, became race
horses for the time. And as to their ri
ders, they lost their heads ; old men and
women forgot their age. and vied with
their youngers.
Sometimes four or five abreast, some
times huddled together by the dozen or
score, sometimes single, they galloped
on now one foremost, now another.
The sober clothing of th9 men mingled
with the bright colors of the women, so
(hat sex was scarcely distinguishable,
since all equally wore hats. There was
no time for love-making or gossip. Their
hearts were in their horses. It was truly
furious riding, aud the women were at en
ergetic as the men. perhaps more so. They
ride well. A Welsh wonwen and her horse
seem one it is difficult to separate them.
And in these bridal raids, Johnny Gil
pin and Mazeppa might have been en
couraged to sit their horses by the fear
lessness of the weaker sex. Even rain
and mud did not appal them. Many
colored shawls, pink and white ribbons,
scarlet cloaks, hoods of all dyes, were
forgetten in tbe one great object of being
up with the bride.
All tbe country side was out to see,
shouting, cheering and frightening, the
horses. There was generally a mile or
so of turnpike road before they reached
the church, so that the steeple chase end
ed in a fair race. The bride and her
father still strained on in advance, but
being visible to all, ,wre more easily
reached by the party of the bridegroom.
He was usually the first to come up with
then, and then began a Tourney for the
Bride. The lover tried to tear her from
herpillion ; she clung to her father, who
held her fast ; the horses pranced or rear
ed, and the dangerous game lasted until
the bridegroom elect gained possession
of his bride, and placed her on his own
horse. Meanwhile the horses tore up,
that their riders might 'be tin re to see,
and in the melee not ever the firm seat
of the woman could always save them
from a downfall. The spectators laughed
and shouted while tbey righted them
selves, and amid a very babel of noise,
the bridegroom started again with his
bride and the race re-commenced. The
equestrian tournament was over, but the
church had still to be reached.
The arrival of the troop at town or vil
lage was generally accompanied by great
tciuL The news of a Horse Wedding al
ways preceded it, and brought all the in
habitants to ihe front. It might be sup
posed that the spirit ot horses and riders
was tired out by this time ; on tbe con
trary, it was ever sharpest at right of lb
goat If they hud flagged a little after
the excitement at the capture of the bride
they roused themselves at the prospect of
the parson. Tbe chances were that tbe
roads had beeu diity. It did not signify.
On they came, bespattered by mud or
besmotbered by dust. Btide and bride
groom, father, tailor or best man, brides
maids, mothers, sisters, brothers, fiiends,
over a hundred horses, all pelted into
the towa haphnz trd. Pattering, clatter
ing, whiparm extended coat-tail?, petti
coats, fhawls, libboiis flouting on they
galloped by units, tens, or scores It was
as though the whole country weie ca
reering away, pursued by some unseen
enemy. The scattered houses and streets
were lined with spectators. Hurrahs
and waving of Lats, peals of laughter,
remarks on personal appearances, bark
ing of dogs, screaming of babies, screech
ing of small boys, such a hullabaloo as
would frighten a Modern lover out of mat
rimony, only emboldened the hero of the
Horse Wedding. Shouts of 'Priodas
Jircft I' and 'ft-iodusfub ( Bride and
Bridegroom) encouraged him to new ef
fort, and he was usually foreaiost in the
race.
lit finally dashed into tbe yard of one
of the principal inns, and so ended it.
Others dashed in after him; mwie noise
and confusion. All the hotels were open
aimed all their arms were filled. A
Horse Wedding was a fortune to the
ionkeepeis Every available stall bad
its horse or horses, every available room
its inmates. The bride and her brides
maids smoothed their ruffled garments
before, the looking-glass ; ihe bnJegruom
and his men reiiesiieu iucuwi? ;,b
draughts of ale. Before half past eleven
o'clock a procession was formed. The
lovers preceded, arm in arm ; every .lack
and Gill, and followed. Blushing, tit
tering, coquetting, they took their way
to the church in pairs. The old people
and children followed less regularly.
Friends joined the string who had nut
joined the race, and a goodly string it
was Shopkeepers were at their doors,
their wived in the windows, spectators
everywhere. Jests flew, and kindly feel
ing prevailed.
The ceremony was duly performed in
the old parish church, and there was no
doubt about tbe wedding. All those val
iant horsemen and horsewomen certified
it, and strengthened tbe Gordian knot.
As there was no easy divorce scissors in
those days to cut it, they remained man
and wife till death did tbem part. The
young men and maidens took the privi
lege of a kisa, nothing loth, and after
the usual singing, the-procession re-formed.
AH tbe company returned to the vari
ous inns, but not at once to re mount
their, horses and go back to the farm
Tbe body required invigorating after the
labors of the morning. The inntaps
flowed with ale, and tired nature 'took
them at the flood ;' but it did not follow
that they 'led on to fortune. Brides
men treated bridesmaids, and the kis
permitted at the altar was snatched at
tbe hotel.
Tbe exit from the town was less regu
lar than the entry. The newly-married
pair and their immediate friends rode off,
steadily enough, and were cheered as they
went. Tbe bride blushed behind her
groom, and had to bear tbe brunt of jokes
and gibes. The rest followed at leisure.
Hats and even horses were exchanged.
Potations of good ale made the men frisky,
and feeds of corn enlivened the horses.
The riders were riotous, and their steeds
kicked and floundered, so that whip and
stick were in request.
But all managed to reach their respec
tive farms. The bridegroom's parly re
turned to bis house, the bride's to hers.
It sounds unsentimental, but as soon as
be bad seen her safe at her old home,
and run the gauntlet of his friends rail
lery, he left her to go and see after tbe
bidding.
Before this look place, however, there
was much eating and drinking at 'both
their boufes. The parents of each pro
vided a separate feast or, if tbe bride
groom lived in his own house, he pro
vided it Sometimes, indeed, bis bid
ding was held in the adode prepared for
himbelf and his wife, even though he
had previously resided with his parents.
When as much bread and cheese and
ale had been eaten and drunk as the guests
required, the great business of the day
began. This was the bidding.
Instead of lavishing money on costly
jewelry and ornaments, as fiiends do
now-a days, the sensible old Cymry gave
their wedding gifts in sterling gold or
silver. The bride stood at her table,
the bridegroom at his, and received as
much money as the guests might choose
to give or lend. The sums were duly
registered. It only lent, they were to be
repaid on a similar occasion. At an in
fluential horse wedding more than a hun
dred pounds might thus be collected, which
enabled the young people to begin life after
their own fashion.
The bridesmaid or bridesmen presented
to each donor a cup or glass of Mel he
glyn (anglicised mead), aud a piece of
oatmeal bread, or what many liked bet
ter beer sweetened with sugar, and fl"?
vored by a sprig of rosemary. This was,
probably, the hale ancestor of our degen
erate claret cup. Each wedding gift
was ahfo acknowledged by a sprig of
rosemary.
Drinking, jollity, loveraaking, gossip
prevailed. No tears were shed, for the
young couple were pretty sure to settle
wiihin reach of their respective parents.
Fiiends accompanied tbetn to their new
home, and left good wishes and jokes at
their threshold
Such was a Horse Wedding of the old
en time. This has been modified, like
everything else, by the course of events.
Printed invitations, formerly in verse,
replaced the picturesque old man with
the ribboned staff. These are called 'Bid
ding Letters,' and are now written in
prose. It is truly a prosaic age ! Thu
shriek of the steam-whistle has fiiirbten
ed away the ppiriis of tbe old bards who
have taken with them the gift of impro
visation ; and the once exhaustless stan
zas, or jKuniilion, poured out at the door
of the bride, have ceased.
Practical jokes nave occasionally trou
bled the mad gallop of the riders, and one
or two serious accidents have put a stop
to tbe Tourney for the Bride. These may
be worthy of record.
Dr. Johnson says that children are by
nature cruel, and that it is education
which teaches them kindness ; be this as
it may, most of them love fun which
frequently means mischief. It happened
that a young wag, hearing of a Horse
Wedding, resolved to have his joke. He
knew of a wasp's nest is the hollow of
an old tree by the wayside, and, as tbe
wedding party were about to gallop past,
he disturbed it. The wasps stung the
horses, and a great many pretty girls
were scattered about the road, while he
stood behind laughing at the tun. It is
satisfactory to add that he was hinwlf'
t.,r;bir stn.l Hid nut dare to cry
out lest he should be discovered, or to
complain afterwards, lest he should be
punished. His practical joke ended with
its sting, but no further ill ensued. This
is more lhau can be said of most practical
jokes.
The accidents that caused the bridal
tourney to cease weie serious aud even
tragic. On olo occasion the bridegroom
reached the bridge in a dangerous and
circuitous part of the road ; while he was
in tbe act of tearing her from her father,
her horse wheeled, Ptutnbled, kicked and
threw her. Snatched from the very arms
of her lover, she fell among some of the
rocky stones of this mountainous way.
He was off his horse in a moment eve
ry one else dismounted. He raised the
insensible form or the poor girl, and ut
tered a bitter cry. The mock combat
had ended in sad reality. She was dead !
At another Horse Wedding the en
counter happened on a hill near the
church. The slope was dangerous, but
excitement and lore are equally blind.
The horses get exci ed also, and, neigh
ing and curveting, while the bridegroom
and father struggled for the bride, she
was thrown off When tbey picked her
up they did not know how much she was
injured, as she was neither dead nor in
sensible. She insisted on being married,
and, in spite of the remonstrances of her
friends, her entreaties prevailed. Her
lover carried her in bis arms to the chuich,
where the clergyman was awaiting them,
and tbe marriage ceremony was performed
amid the suppressed sigs and tears of ter
rified relatives. As coon as she was made
one with him she loved, the spirit which
h d sustained tbe body gave way, and it
was evident that she was dying. The sad
scene may be imagined ; the little moun
tain church the pastor at the altar pray
ing for tbe departing spirit the kneeling,
sobbing, agonized fi iends (be bridegroom
and bis bride I
It is no wonder that these tragedies
should hate'put an end to the Tourney
for tbe Uiidej and that other accidents
frequent if not fatal, should have dimin
ished the boisterous hilarity of the race
Beside, the increase of churches, find
the inroad of carriages of all description?,
have facilitated mountain matches, and
.endered a Horse Wedding of rare occur
fence. Like all picturesque end primi
tive customs, it is wearint; out with the
wear of apes, and as a pillion is now a
curiosity of leather-work, so will a Horse
Weddi ng soon become a 'Curiosity of
Literature.'
Castles in the Air What a dull,
dreary world this would be without hope!
Failh makes bigots, but hope makes cheer
and forget fulnes-s of Ihe wrongs of the
present. A correspondent gives a glow
ing description of air-c.-.stle building,
which reads like a volume of poetry,
bound in the daintiest blue and gold.
"What a world of day-dreaming and
castle building we all do!" sajs this
writ-: the Irishman at his spade, ihe
seamstress at her needle, the housewife v. I
her domestic duties, the boy at school,
the merchant at his business! All of us
are at home in a realm in which we aro
gent r.da, statesmen, poets, philanthropes' ?,
millionaires, kings of the turf, champions
of the boat-race, just in accordance with
our tastes ; all of us in a realm in which
we foice some great general to surrender,
emancipate every slave in creation, pull
the stroke oar in the international race on
the Thames, make hundreds of poor fami
lies rich and happy, plant the national
banner in patriotic enthusiasm in a hole
drilhd exactly at the North Pole. Who
so penniless or abject but he habitually
enters at will a stately kingdom in which
he owns country-seats, picture galleries,
wine cellars, yachts, and l.ilaiii uxly en
joys tbe nicest possible holidays, giving
patties, making his tenantry happy, win
ning the prize-cup in his tchooner "Mary'
or "Alice," named after his dear wife or
blue-eyed sweet-heart, whose face lighted
up so rapturously when for the first time
be rowed her round under the stern, and
showed her own name in gleaming letters
of gold. Meanwhile, perhaps, the com
monplace facts are, that we are not worth
a guinea, do not own & strip of land, do
not ktiow the trigger from tho hammer of
a musket, are lei a'lts ourselves, only blow
the organ for the orchestra, and have just
been threatened with losing our place if
we do not blow letter."
Grant's Little Lmb. Grant had a
little lamb, bis little name was Laet, and
every time ihtt Grant went out, this
Iamb it followed him about, npon the
busy street. Then Grant he said : "My
little lamb, I will find you pastures new ;
where sweetest milk and honey rare, shall
onward flow, with enough to spare for a
Leet and a Stocking too." So tli3 bleat
ing lamb to Grinnell went, anJ presented
him Grant's letter ; "Grinnell says he,
"my little sheep, you shall on a bud of
greenbacks sleep, and I'm Bure you want
no better." Baa! cried the little lamb in
glee, and he kicked up his little feet ; this
is the kind of life I like, through Grant
I've made a famous strike, and here in
peace I'll bleat. This is the story of
Grant's lamb, in humble measure told ;
oh, that we had a letter, too, with which
we might a collector "do," and turn it
qiick to gold !
We place Yankee ingenuity against the
world, whether it be in the manufacture
f wooden nutmegs or the avoidance of
the payment of bills. A nolable instance
of the latt er is given in a Connecticut papei .
An M. D. rather remarkable for bis im-
t'pr cuniousness, being called upon by his
landlord with a bill for rent due, politely
escorted his unwelcome visitor into ab 'i
room, where, drawing aside a dingy-look
ing curtain, he showed him a skel- on,
quietly remarking, as he did so, 4 That
man came here just two weeks ago with
a bill, and insisted upon its b ing paid. A
word to the wise is sufficient." The land
lord incontinently left, and the doctor
maintains undisputed possession.
A IJTTI.E boy who loves to pass his
evenings in the store, and listen lo the im
proving conversation of ihe elders while
helping himself to sugar, was told the
other night that hereafter he must stay at
home. "I wish I was a man," he id
"And what would you do if you were a
man ?'' asked his mother. "1 would get
married, and then I could go to the store
every evening." A very observant boy.
A TOUNG gkntleaIas who recently
took the school census at Burlington, Vt.,
was met at one house by a fun-loving
young lady, who, in answer to the usual
question whether there had been any births
in the family since the last school census,
replied : "The occupants of this house are
three old maids, two of them sick, and a
tomcat; don't you think the prospect pret
ty poor?" The young man blushed and left.
A fellow lately started a store in Kan
sab. The following was the 6ign he hung
out : "Dry goods by John Smith, who
wishes to get married." This sign drew
all kinds of custom. Tbe single ladies
went of course, and the married men all
told their wives to go, under ihe impres
sion that they could easily eheat so great
a fool
NUMBER 12.
AfLTL FOntS.
TRAVELING IS KEXTLCKt
A JOKE.
-VEB.Y MLC11 Of
It was during the presidential cam
paign" which resulted in the election of
Buchanan, says the Toledo Blaite, that
the writer tf the appended sketch, in com
pany with three other politicians, rode
tr om Paducah to Boston, Ky., in a h;u:f..
TVey we.e bound for one of lhoe old fash
ioned barbecurs. The joking Judge M.
was one of the paity.
Our fun was at its highest, when, turn
ing a curve in the road, we saw down its
hot dusty stretch, a solitary ox t art with
its owner perched upon what proved to
be bags of coin. As a kind of adatice
guard, a great ugly hi indie dog came
trotting alon, and. atlracled by our oo'sde,
ho threw himself in an attitude of defiance,
determined to dispute our advance. With
his Buvage growl, red eyes, and erect
bris.Ies, he indeed presented a formidable
appearance. Judge M. could not let such
an opportunity for a practical juke pass.
Said he :
"I'll bet drinks fwr the day that I can
fun that dog olf the road "
"Done," said we.
Slopping our hack, he gut out and
threw the fckirts of his "swallow-tailed"
coat over hid shoulders, stuck his old
slouch hat on ihe back of his head, aud
going down on "all fours" he (caoipered
toward the do with the most fri'htful
yells. This was too much for the dog,
and, howling with fright, he took to the
brush. The oxca also saw the feaiful
tnorio.er coming down the road, and .itl
one wild bellow they took to the btu&li,
with their tails Standing out behind
Away they went, with wheels bouncing
in the air, b..ss of corn bursting open,
and spilling their contents ia a cwnuuu
ou3 drill.
"Whoa, Blaze! Whoa, Ball! O Lor
dy ! what shall I do?" came tram the
frightened man on the cart, as he was
bounding from side lo tide, now grabbing
a cait-pole, then catching ut a bag of corn
aa it wtut oter ihe bide.
This kind of performance couldn't last
long without a change for the better or
worse, as the oxen went tearing down the
steep bank of a little creek i.nJ ovei tin ned
everything in the water, about wuisi deep.
One ox gelling loose, went up Ihe oppo
site bank and feouii disappeared, whi!e
the other cowered down, piteou?ly bellow
ing'as we came up to the scene of disas
ter. There stood the poor man in water
up to his waist, his waon overt orned,
and half his corn soaking in the water,
while the other half was scattered in the
woods. He looked scared and pitiful,
and Paid :
"O Lordy, stranger, don't never do
that ar any more. I in ruined ! '
It was a splendid success, thai joke, and
there stood ihe Judge holding on a sap
ling and laughing till the tears rau down
his cheeks.
We took up a subscription for the
poor fellow, the judge heading the lit
with an amount nearly covering the
damages, and we added to it until we
left the man in thankfulness that he had
sold his corn so well. At the barbecue
he Jude bet all his money on a little
horse race, and lost, and fixm that and
the effects of hi drinks at our expense,
we had to carry him to our hack on a
barn-door. On his way home he insisted
upon standing upon his head.
Which was the ruined man ?
A Singclab Ulvkngs. The Troy Tirnea
aays: About orty years ago their leaded in
the t'wn of Jackson. Washington county, a
well- : do farmer by the i.atne of Ferguson.
He was industrious and fugal, hut after a
time became addicted to the u.-e of iutmicat
ing riiiuks, and when under Ihe u.ilueiice uf
his faVorite bi-vcae would be libera! to such
an extent that he would give away any pro
perty which miht be at his dispcsal at ibw
time. Fen ring that he would thus squander
all his tried, a rommig;oi was obla'u.ed
aro the property placed in the hands tf his
hi". When the papers weie served on the
old mau he remarked, '"You have taken my
properly trom me. have you, and are obliged
to support and take care of uie ? Well, tlii o
take care of me." He immediately took to
his Vii and ceutinued to remain there, (ia
and uiht, for twenty years. For the first
few veais he would get up and share hisi
self every Saturday, acd thtn immediately
take to his bed again, hut for the hist fifteen
yea 6 of bis life he was waited upon as an
infant, notwithstanding he enjiyed good
health and w in possession of all his facul
tits, mental acd physical. The correspond
ent who sends us thu above vouches for ils
literal truth.
The CARf kktek's Dukam. A poor man
was a carpeuter; ha 'ifleu said lo himself,
"If I wason'y rich 1 would t-how people how
to gie." Iu his dream he saw a pyramid
of silver d-'lUrs. all new, bright and heauti-,
ful. Just then a Vcice reached hire, sating:
"Now is your time. Y"ii are iicb at last,
let us see your gt u r.-sity.'' So he rose from
his seat and went to thu pile to take some
money fr charitable purposes. But the pyr
amid was so perfect that he could not hear to
break it. He walked all around it. bat
found no place where he could take a dollar
without spoilicg the heap. So he decided
that the pyramid should not be broken, and
then awoke. He awoke to know himself,
and to see that he would be generous only
while comparatively poor.
As a wifa was Iicfldiog her husband's acii
ing head in her hands, one fnorniDg. she
asked : "Are a man and his wife one?" "i
supptute eo,"said the husband. "Then," re
joined the wife. "I came .homo drank laf
night, and ought to be ashamed of myself,'
.a.