RURAL COUPLES AT THE ALTAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8842, 2 April 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

RURAL COUPLES AT THE ALTAR.

[iJY A COUNTRY CLERGYMAN.] Only those who have experienced the difficulty of getting an answer from the rustic bridegroom to the question, " Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife can have any idea of the state of his feelings on the occasion. He very often manages to get on the wrong side of his bride ; occasionally away from her altogether. He is quite indifferent, in fact, where he stands ; so much so that if he were told to remain, during the ceremony, by himself at the bottom of the church, he would, in all probability, raiso no objection. This stale of mind on the part of the bridegroom has, not unfrequently, led to embarrassing results. On one occassion it nearly resulted in the best man's" being married to the bride, that important functionary standing quite calmly in the bridegroom's place, and the obliging principal himself striking a most self-satisfied and contemplative attitude a little way off. The officiating clergyman had never seen the couple before, and could not, of course, detect the mistake. He was, therefore, proceeding with the service when fortunately the clerk saw what was about to take place; the accommodating " best man" was shoved with no gentle hand out of the position he had usurped, and the bridegroom was abruptly pulled into it. A peculiarly liberal-minded "groom" was once heard to endow his bride with " all his hurdle goods" without the slightest hesitation ; while more than one bride has apparently found the plighting of her troth a serious obstacle to her marriage. One fair and determined one absolutely refused to repeat the words " honour and obey," to the perplexity of the olliciating clergyman and the astonishment of tho confiding bridegroom. There is not unfrequently some little difficulty about tho "giving away." Such is tho rustic bridegroom's state of mind that if allowed he would be quite ready to give his bride away himself; while the person upon whom this duty devolves has generally a very hazy idea indeed of what is required of him : so far indeed does this obliging relative carry his acquiescence that there is little doubt that if asked to give away one of the bridesmaids instead of the bride he would do so with the greatest alacrity. The giving of the ring is a dreadful ordeal. After a trembling hunt for the talismanic circle on the part of the bridegroom, it is at length as tremblingly produced; then, directed by the clergyman, a clumsy attempt is made to place it on the third finger of the bride's left hand. More often than not it sticks at tho second joint, which obstacle calls forth all the bridegroom's energies, and he screws at the obstinate ring in a determined manner. On one occasion the ring, a very cheap 0110, was so sharp, and tho bride's finger was so thick, that by the time it was got into its place the unhappy member which it encircled was covered with blood, which exhibition, however, both bride and bridegroom and their respective supporters viewed with the most total unconcern. — From Cassell's Saturday Journal for February.