hand, which, having given him, he then solicited the pleasure of a kiss at parting; he smiled so graciously, that she could not refuse him so trivial a favour; besides, after he had shaken hands with her, she felt so strangely, that, had he again asked her, she would have accompanied him; but when he approached to salute her, his breath was hot as a burning flame, she hastily turned away her face,-he rudely snatched the once proffered embrace, bit her lip till the blood fell on her bosom, touched her right eye with his finger, which caused it to smart exceedingly, and spurring his steed, vanished in a moment. She awoke in great alarm, and found that her eye was bloodshot, and her lip bleeding profusely. When beginning to dress in her weddingclothes, she put the wrong side of her petticoat foremost ; in lacing her stays, the lace broke three several times, and about two hours after, again snapped, with a noise that made those who were seated beside her start from their seats; when about to put on her gloves, it was discovered that they were both for the left hand; and in walking to church, her apron-strings loosed, and it fell in the path before her. Upon standing up before the minister, and when about to join hands, she forgot to take off her glove, and the bridegroom took her right hand with his left; coming out, she dropped one of her garters on the threshold, where she had stumbled at her entrance. When she arrived at the door of her future residence, the apparition who had frightened her so much in her sleep, came up at full gallop, dressed exactly as before, crossed through between her and the bridegroom's mother, who was stretching out her hand to receive and welcome her daughter-in-law; checking his horse, he "grinned horrible a ghastly smile" upon the bride, and disappeared with the velocity of lightning. This apparition was seen by nobody except the bride, and by her only with the right eye, which he had touched on the preceding night. She dropped down in a swoon, to the great alarm of the company, who could form no conjecture of the cause. The festivities of the day, although interrupted, were resumed on her recovery. When put to bed with her bridegroom, scarcely had she fal len asleep, when this intruder repeat- I have heard it also said by the old women, that both fairies and witches have more influence, and take a greater delight in playing their pranks in the month of May, than in any other season; the fairies holding their revels after evening twilight, and the witches generally early in the morning, but always disappearing before sunrise. Some freits and superstitions, connected with these opinions, shall be related afterwards. It may, however, be noticed here, that as a woman will not marry in May, neither will she spean (wean) her child in that month. Perhaps both these freits have originated in some superstition long since forgotten, and the practice, like many other absurdities, is continued, because it has so long been customary. When a couple are to marry, the first public procedure is for the bridegroom, accompanied by the bride's father, and a few friends, to wait up on the session-clerk for the purpose of getting the banns published, according to the rules of the kirk; on which occasion a small and fixed sum is paid to the poor's fund, also a fee to the session-clerk. This always takes place on a Saturday evening, and is termed the contract night; they commonly adjourn to the village alehouse, where they draw corks, and crack jokes, till a late hour, and often (if the bridegroom is what they term a gude fallow) till they are a' blind fu.' If the parties are rigid Presbyterians, the Westminster Confession of Faith must not be deviated from, either in doctrine or discipline; consequently, the banns are published three several Sundays, and the nuptials take place in the week after the last proclamation. On this subject some of the laity seem to be more rigid in their adherence to the forms of their ancestors than the clergy; as the practice of the kirk allows the banns to be thrice published on one day, and the parties married next morning, if so inclined; but for this indulgence and deviation extra fees must be paid both to the poor's fund and the sessionclerk. From the contract night to the afternoon of the Sunday after their marriage, the partics are termed bride and bridegroom, and, during this period, neither must attend either wedding or funeral, or the consequences will be in the former case, that their first-born child will "break Diana's pales ;" and in the latter, never be married. I have seen several instances where the old folks predicted the consequences to such as were born under these circumstances, and which were afterwards fulfilled. It seems probable that the parties believing themselves under a spell, deemed it useless to struggle against their destiny, and thus were the cause of the prediction being fulfilled. About this time the bride appoints her two bride-maids, and the bridegroom two male attendants, termed ex officio "allekays;" the derivation of the title I cannot determine. It would not, perhaps, be easy to ascertain the particular period when penny-weddings were first introduced into Scotland; from many of our old ballads, the practice seems to have been of pretty long standing, and I am inclined to believe was first adopt ed for a very benevolent purpose. Money was then scarce, and, compared with our times, few of the luxuries or even the conveniences of life were enjoyed by the common people. When a young couple in the lower rank of society married, they were often, in the dialect of the country, but bauchly provided; hence their friends and neighbours met together, dined, drank, and made merry, cach contributing a small sum for his entertainment, the aggregate of which, after discharging the expences incurred, left a surplus for the young couple to assist in furnishing their house. Exclusive of this, it was then the custom for their neighbours to wait upon them in the inorning, every one with a gift of some article necessary in the way of housekeeping. See Ramsay's Additions to King James' Christ's Kirk on the Green. The wedding generally takes place on Thursday, or Friday at latest. During the week before, the bride and bridegroom are employed in ca'ing their fowk, (inviting the guests to the wedding.) This is a fatiguing office, for the number invited is seldom less than one hundred, generally two. I have been at a penny-wedding where four hundred dined at the first table. In a country place, many of these live far distant from each other; and it would be considered as a mark of disrespect not to be invited at their own dwelling-place by the bride or bridegroom in person, and the invitations are all expected in the course of the week before the wedding takes place; it is also the custom to set victuals before them, in every house they enter. One day of this week is devoted to the purpose of the bride and bridegroom accompanying each other to the nearest market-town to buy their braw things, (gloves, ribbons, &c.) The next and important week commences with catering; and bread, beef, beer, rum, &c. are laid in, sufficient for the occasion. All the plates, caps, cutties, and wooden trenchers, in the neighbourhood, are put in requisition ;-to provide knives and forks would be a hopeless task, the guests are, therefore, expected to fetch them in their pockets. The eve of the wedding-day is termed the feet-washing, when a party of the neighbours of the bride and bridegroom assemble at their re spective homes; a tub of water is brought, into which the feet of the party are placed, and a small piece of silver or copper money dropped into the water; but at this moment one of the company generally tosses in a handful of soot, by which the water is completely blackened; a most eager and ludicrous scramble now takes place among the lads and lasses, striving who shall get the piece of money, pushing, shoving, and splashing a bove the elbows; for the lucky finder is to be first married of the company. A second and more cleanly ablution takes place; they then eat and drink, perhaps dance, as a prelude to the still more important festivities of the following day. The nuptial ceremony is sometimes previously performed, but most commonly on the wedding-day, in which case, as the parties have sometimes a good way to walk to the kirk, the guests assemble early in the forenoon, particularly the bride's, as they are treated with a collation before starting. During this repast, a couple of envoys (Scot. sends) arrive from the bridegroom, who lead the bride to the temple of Hymen, she having, on their arrival, presented each with a pair of gloves, and her maids tie a blue ribbon in the breast of their coats, as the insignia of their order. She is accompanied to the kirk by at least all the youthful part of her guests, one or more fiddlers playing appropriate tunes; and must not look behind her on the journey. Great attention is paid to the first foot, that is, the first person who happens to meet them; and if such person does not voluntarily offer to go back with them, they are generally compelled to do so. A man on horseback is reckoned very lucky, and a bare-footed woman almost as bad as a witch. Should a hare cross the road before the bride, it is ominous, but a toad crawling over the path she has to pass, is a good omen; a magpie on flight crossing the way from right to left, or, as some say, contrary to the sun, is the harbinger of bad luck, but if vice versa, is reckoned harmless; horned cattle are inauspicious to the bridegroom, and a yeld cow (not giving milk) to the bride. I have repeatedly heard the following rhymes, on the occasions to which they refer: West wind to the bairn To welcome the bride, Wi' the sun on her side. Apprehensions are sometimes entertained, that witches, by their incantations, may cast ill upon the couple, particularly the bridegroom, if the bride has a rival. To counteract these spells, it is sometimes the practice for the bridegroom to kiss the bride immediately after the minister has declared them married persons. More strange and mysterious counterspells are often talked of, and I believe have been practised; but the relation of them may be considered as "more honoured in the breach than in the observance." If the bride and bridegroom reside in different parishes, the marriage ceremony always takes place in that of the bride; and, in that case, the school-boys of the parish claim a small fine from the bridegroom to purchase a foot-ball. The boys are usually in waiting in the kirk-yard, or at the gate; a couple of shillings or so will generally satisfy them, but if their claim is refused, they become rather troublesome. I once saw the demand made, and after no small altercation, the parsimonious bridegroom threw them a few coppers, upon which they opened like a pack of hounds, bawling and huzzaing" the twopenny bride!" after which they assailed the party with mud, filth, and such harmless missiles as were within reach, till one of the company, with less avarice, and more prudence than the bridegroom, satisfied their demands, when they departed with three cheers. The company, upon leaving the kirk, take the road to the bridegroom's; if any are upon horseback, they start for what is called riding the broose, that is, a race who shall first arrive at his door; and as their equestrian accoutrements are sometimes none of the best, some tumbles, and laughable incidents occur, and occasionally a serious accident will happen. A few fleet young fellows also start on foot in a similar contest. The victor's meed of honour is a pair of gloves, and the privilege of kissing the bride, who is now led home by the allekays, her maids having previously decorated the breast of their coats with a red ribbon, the badge of office. The bridegroom is, in like manner, escorted, or rather led by the two bride-maids, and this ceremony is never dispensed with, whatever be the distance. When arrived within a short distance of home, there are always some young men and boys secreted behind hedges, corn-stacks, or whatever may screen them from observation, who pop off their rusty muskets when least expected, as a feu de joye. When they reach the bridegroom's door, the bride is met by his mother, or one deputed to fill her place; some cakes of shortbread are broken over the bride's head, and distributed among the spectators; this is most anxiously sought after, and, if the company is large, it is a peculiar favour to obtain the smallest crumb of this cake, which is known by the name of dreaming bread, as it possesses the talismanic virtue of favouring such as lay it below their pillow with a nocturnal vision of their future partner for life. The same woman who received the bride at the door, now leads her across the floor to the fire-side, lifts the tongs, and puts them into the hands of their new mistress; doubtless implying, that the house is now hers, as earth and stone are the symbols of possession, when seisin is taken of lands or tenements. The company now sit down to dinner, the table having been previously arranged. If the weather will permit, this feast is always enjoyed, in the open air, on the village green or a lea rig; in summer this is exceeding ly pleasant, and may truly be termed a fete champetre. The table is formed of wooden planks, borne up by sods, and covered with webs of coarse linen cloth, the seats for the company being reared in a similar manner. The bride is seated at the upper end of the table, supported by the two allekays. The bridegroom is bustling about, bearing meat and drink to the company, the principal charge of the dinner belonging to one named master of the household, generally a respectable farmer in the neighbour hood. Excellent broth, and beef boiled and roasted, are placed before the company; the broth is in large wooden dishes, set at regular dis tances, and as many eat from one' dish as can reach it with the aid of a long spoon. The beef is placed in the same way, but at still greater distances; one procures a large slice from the mess, and, producing "a faulding jocteleg" from his pocket, cuts the meat in pieces on a wooden trencher for those around him. Beer flows in abundance, and in this way the company make a very comfortable and substantial dinner. A dram is afterwards offered to every individual, and cheese concludes the entertainment. The master of the household now collects the dinner lawin, commonly one shilling, from each; but a larger sum is never refused if offered. After which one of the office-bearers collects for the musicians, at the pleasure of the company. Every one is now at liberty to depart, although it is not expected that any will avail themselves of this privilege. Now may be seen from a dozen to a score of mendicant gypsies of both sexes, or tinkers, as they are termed here; they are always supplied with meat and drink, often getting intoxicated, and quarrelling among themselves. During the afternoon they are attentively observing the different groups of lads and lasses, and are acute in discerning their private walks and secret attachments. Some weeks after they come round in a different costume, professing to be fortune-tellers, artfully unfolding what they had before discovered, and also leading their simple and credulous votarics still farther to disclose their own secrets, till they obtain almost unlimited credit for divination and soothsaying. There are not wanting instances within my recollection, of both young men and women in the neighbourhood disguising themselves as gypsies, and attending a wedding in the midst of their own acquaintance, partly for a frolic, but principally to watch the motion of the object of their affections, who attended the wedding unconscious of their presence. Dancing now begins in good earnest; if the company is small, or the room (which is generally a barn) commodious and extensive, it is all under one roof, but it is very common to have two or three dancing rooms, and these often at a considerable distance from each other. The ball is opened by the bridegroom, bride, bride ple, "More fond and billing Than William and Mary on a shilling. maids and allekays, and afterwards ed among the straw, are a loving coucontinued by the company. Very little 66 dancing by the book" takes place, nor have they minuets, hornpipes, and country-dances; Scots reels and strathspeys are more congenial to their habits, and serve sufficiently to " put life and mettle in their heels." The bridegroom's house, and such other accommodations as can be procured, are appropriated for drinking; the liquor is commonly rum, sold in bottles, with a proportionate quantity of sugar, (and it is from this that any profit to the bridegroom arises.) It is diluted into toddy, commonly in a milk cogue. Husbands and wives, lads and lasses, sit promiscuously. The men bring in the women, who, after tasting very sparingly, sit a little, and retire, that their places may be occupied by a fresh levy. The young men also relieve each other at their separate parts of dancing and drinking alternately. It is the duty of the allekays to keep the company together as long as possible, and particularly not to let the lasses depart, as their magnetic attractions are sufficient to retain the beaux. About the "noon of night" the bride is put to bed by her maids, in the presence of as many spectators as the bed-room will contain, pressing, squeezing, standing upon tip-toe, and peeping over each other's heads, for a glance of the blushing fair, who throws the stocking from her left leg over the right shoulder, and the person on whom it falls is to be first married. Thus Ramsay, "The bride was now laid in her bed, The bridegroom is placed beside her Now is the time when good humour, mirth, and rural courtship, are in their zenith; lads and lasses still tripping it on the light fantastic toe" in the barn; in one corner, seat All around the benches every girl is encircled by the protecting arm of some adoring rustic. There steals out a pair to take their secret crack under the elder bush, "alone by the light of the moon." The lasses begin to drop off, every one being accompanied home by some guardian swain. The inorning sun shines upon many a dull languid eye and drowsy head, but a joyous afternoon is still awaiting them, for the day after the wedding is the infare,-a phrase of which I have sought in vain for the etymology. This may be considered a second edition of yesterday, only the company is less numerous, and the dinner is commonly the scraps that were left at the wedding-feast. On this occasion every one of both sexes who has a change of dress appears in a garb different from that worn on the preceding day. The guests now assembled are better acquainted with each other, and this society, with less show, has probably more zest. Matrons and grandmothers now mingle in the dance, to the tunes of "the Dusty Miller,' 66 Bob at the bowster," &c. while the cadgie carles call to their recollection "the days o' langsyne." Drinking and dancing continue throughout the afternoon and evening, as before described. On Sunday comes the kirking, the bride and bridegroom, attended by their office-bearers, as also the lads and lasses of the village, walk to the kirk, seat themselves in a body, and, after service, the parishioners rank up in the kirk-yard to see them pass. They dine at the bridegroom's, and, after dinner, the right hand allekay generally reads a chapter of the New Testament, containing St Paul's injunctions to husbands and wives, part of the 45th Psalm is also sung, beginning "O daughter, hearken and regard, This service concluded, a health goes |