A WEDDING IN ICELAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1716, 18 January 1905, Page 12

A WEDDING IN ICELAND.

(From “The Prodigal Son,” by Hall Came.)

The bridesmaids were waiting in the porch—Helga looked woodrously beautiful in an. English dress, and two former schoolfellows in Iceland costume.

Thora, who was moving as in a vision, felt somebody taking off her plush cloak, and then the bells stopped and the organ began. At the next moment the choir were singing a hymn—the usual hymn—“ When God the Father led the first of brides”—and then she was going up the aisle, leaning on her father’s arm.

She had never seen so many faces since the day she was confirmed. They seemed to move past her, and they made her almost dizzy. She remembered how at other weddings the congregation had watched for the bride and looked at her as if she had been a supernatural thing. “She’s coming !” “Here she comes !” She herself was the bride now, and the people were craning their necks to see her.

Thora could feel their smiling faces, and she knew that her own face was smiling. She could hear what the people were saying as she passed them — “Dear Thora!” “How lovely she looks!” “I’m satisfied now, and I don’t care if I go> —I only wanted to see how Thora looked in the kirtl-e.” And meanwhile the voices of the choir were coming down from the gallery as from the sky, and floating round and 1 round her. At the top c-f the nave Oscar was waiting—so perfectly dressed, so handsome, so noble-looking—with a fair young man on his right hand, and on his left the Governor, very solemn and stately, with his iron-grey hair and beard. The hymn came to an end, the organ died down, and Thora found herself standing by o<scar’s side at the foot of the chancel steps, with the old Bishop in his pleated black gown and white ruff at the top of them. There was a rustle behind her, then there was silence, and the Bishop began to speak. “My children,” he said, “when long ago* God the Father led the first' of brides to the first of men in the beautiful Garden of Eden He linked their hands together in love, and that was the first marriage. Since then He has carried on th© human story by the same sweet means, and love is still the bond that binds man to woman and woman to man.”

“My children,” said the Bishop again -—he was speaking to her and Oscar — “you come here to he man and wife, and because you love one another God is willing to join your hands in hold wedlock, for He blesses and sanctifies noother union, whether of wealth or worldly advantage, or any other interest whatsoever.

“We know you both, my children ; we who are gathered here have watched the flower of your affection bud and bloom, and now we pray to God that you may be true to the vows you are to make today, always bearing each other’s burdens, forgiving each other’s faults, and cherishing the human love that is a symbol of the love divine.

“My daughter, love him who- is to he your husband; let him find on your breast his solace for every sorrow, whatevor the world may do to him, and whatever the world may say.

“My son, love her who l is to be your wife. There is nothing nobler in this imperf ect existence, no sight more sweet andi heavenly, than when a good girl leaves the father who loves her and the home where she has been happy, and says to him who is to be her husband — ‘The past was beautiful, but I trust the future all to you/ Be worthy of that trust, my son, he strong, be brave, be faithful, and He who knows our weaknesses, having trodden the earth before us, will bear you up if your feet should falter.

“Be companions to each other in the journey of this world, my dear ones, and if it should please God to give you children, let them be bonds to bind you closer together. Above all, love one another, for that is the first commandment, and may Be who gave it guard and guide you through all the thorny paths of life.” The Bishop’s voice became tremulous towards the end, and! when he finished there was some coughing and blowing of noses among the congregation. Oscar, too, was breathing heavily by Thora’s side, and Helga was trampling on her train, but Thora herself was as calm as a trustful child. At the next moment she was kneeling by Oscar s side, on the Communion steps—just where they had knelt as ckilch en to be confirmed —and the Bishop was administering the vows. There was a breathless hush in the crowded cathedral during this solemn and beautiful ceremony—a ceremony for ever new, for ever old, for ever awful —the consecration of the man to the woman, the woman to the man, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, “until death us do part.” Oscar was still breathing heavily, but Thora felt too happy to be agitated, too sure to be afraid. When the Bishop put his hands together, and laid his own hand on the top of them, she felt Oscar’s hand tremble and his pulse throb, and she wanted to calm and comfort him. But it was£v©r in a moment, for they had risen to their feet, and one

of the assistant clergy was giving out a hymn. Guide Thy children, Father, guide them, Through the thorny paths of life. The choir began it, but the congregation joined in, and all the voices seemed to quiver with emotion. Thora felt herself carried away, far away, but still she was holding Oscar’s hand. She thought she could hear Magnus’s voice among the voices behind her —the deep voice she used to hear on those evenings so long ago. Poor Magnus! But then he would have had no joy of her, so it was better even for him. It was something of a descent when the hymn ended and the Bishop shook hands with her, and the Governor followed his example, and the bridesmaids came up and kissed her in the presence of the whole congregation. But Oscar gave her his arm, and as they moved down the nave the organ and choir began again. O Perfect Love, all human thought transcending, Lowly we kneel in prayer before Thy throne. She was now sure she could hear Magnus, and looking up at the organ loft, she saw him. Yes, he was there ; he was in the choir; he had come back from the Northlands to sing at her wedding. That theirs may be the joy that knows no ending, Whom Thou for evermore dost join in one — She had only one glance at his face, but she saw it plainly. She had never seen it like that before—so broken up and so soft, yet so- strong and brave. His eyes were steadfastly fixed on his music-book, and he was swaying a little and singing as with all his might. Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow, Grant them the- peace which calms all earthly strife —

But Magnus was whirled away from her in a moment, for the people whispered as she was going past, “Dear Thora! Go-d bless our Thora!”

Oscar was bowing on both sides of the aisle, and the people were talking tc him also. “How handsome he looks!” “He looks as if he co-uld take care of her. too !” “Take good care of her, Oscar!” They were back in the porch at length, and somebody was putting her plush cloak over her shoulders. Silvertop was standing outside, and Hans, the sailor (in his new sleeve waistcoat), giving him water out of his pail.

Oscar lifted her to the saddle, and they turned their faces homeward. The bells began to ring again—a merry peal —and then at last, Thora’s tears began to flow. How good everybody had been to her! It was all for Oscar’s sake. How sweet to think they were good to her for the sake of Oscar! Thank God for Oscar!