 | The works of Washington Irving |  |
THE WEDDING.
The lofty bridegroom, and the lovely bride;
That all of their succeeding days may say,
Each day appears like to a wedding-day.
Braithwaite.
Notwithstanding the doubts and demurs
of Lady Lillycraft, and all the
grave objections that were conjured up
against the month of May, yet the wedding
has at length happily taken place.
It was celebrated at the village church,
in presence of a numerous company of
relatives and friends, and many of the
tenantry. The squire must needs have
something of the old ceremonies observed
on the occasion; so, at the gate of the
churchyard, several little girls of the
village, dressed in white, were in readiness
with baskets of flowers, which they
strewed before the bride; and the butler
bore before her the bride-cup, a great
silver embossed bowl, one of the family
relics from the days of the hard drinkers.
This was filled with rich wine, and decorated
with a branch of rosemary, tied
with gay ribands, according to ancient
custom.
"Happy is the bride that the sun
shines on," says the old proverb; and it
was as sunny and auspicious a morning
as heart could wish. The bride looked
uncommonly beautiful; but, in fact, what
woman does not look interesting on her
wedding-day? I know no sight more
charming and touching than that of a
young and timid bride, in her robes of
virgin white, led up trembling to the
altar. When I thus behold a lovely girl,
in the tenderness of her years, forsaking
the house