Mind Amongst the Spindles. A Miscellany, Wholly Composed by the Factory Girls
General
Mind Amongst the Spindles. A Miscellany, Wholly Composed by the Factory Girls
American literature -- Massachusetts -- Lowell; American literature -- Women authors; Working class women -- Literary collections
when the blowing of a horn announced the approach of the Governor, whose
barge was soon seen turning a point of land. The company gave a salute
of nineteen guns, which was returned from the barge, gun for gun. The
Governor and retinue soon landed, and the fair was quickly over. The
company being seated on rude benches prepared for the occasion, the
blowing of a horn announced that it was time for the ceremony to
commence; and, being answered by a whistle, all eyes were turned toward
the right, and issuing from the birchen grove were seen three musicians,
with a bagpipe, fife, and a Scotch fiddle, upon which they were playing
with more good nature than skill. They were followed by the bridegroom
and grooms-man, and in the rear were a number of young men in their
holiday clothes. These having taken their places, soft music was heard
from the left; and from a recess in the pines, three maidens in white,
with baskets of wild flowers on the left arm, came forth, strewing the
flowers on the ground, and singing a song, of which I remember only the
chorus:
"Lead the bride to Hymen's bowers,
Strew her path with choicest flowers."
The bride and bridesmaid followed, and after them came several lasses in
gala dresses. These having taken their places, the father of the bride
arose, and taking his daughter's hand and placing it in that of
Clifford, gave them his blessing. The Governor soon united them in the
bonds of holy matrimony, and as he ended the ceremony with saying, "What
God hath joined let no man put asunder," he heartily saluted the bride.
Clifford followed his example, and after him she was saluted by every
gentleman in the company. As a compensation for this "rifling of
sweets," Clifford had the privilege of kissing every lady present, and
beginning with Madame Wentworth, he saluted them all, from the
gray-headed matron, to the infant in its mother's arms.
The cake and wine were then passed round. Being a present from Madame
Wentworth, they were no doubt excellent. After this refreshment, and
while the good matrons were cooking their peas, and making other
preparations, the young folks spent the time in playing
"blind-man's-buff," and "hide and go seek," and in singing "Jemmy and
Nancy," "Barbara Allen," "The Friar with Orders Grey," "The Lass of
Richmond Hill," "Gilderoy," and other songs which they thought were
appropriate to the occasion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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