Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/416

432 in clear, silvery cascades,, over rocks and stones, with water scarcely sufficient to drown a cat, now rolled along its waves like the very Rhone, pouring itself down, turbid and broad, from the hills, with a force which dashed huge stones together, and occasioned a noise as of dull thunder. I went down into the valley of Lucerne, enjoying the soft, fragrant air, gladdening myself with the fruitful earth, which was odorous as as a violet or a babe, still wet after a fragrant bath!

Whilst I have it in my memory, I will note down some peculiar marriage customs, which are universal in these valleys.

On the evening before the wedding-day, the bride invites all her young friends to visit her, and celebrates with them a kind of parting feast, not, however, like that of Jephthah's daughter, but a little merrier, and also accompanied with every kind of entertainment. On the wedding-day itself, the bridegroom comes to the bride's house, accompanied by his father and godfather,—the latter being his spokesman,—together with several others of his friends. The spokesman knocks at the closed door of the house. It is opened by the father of the family, who seems much astonished, and inquires, “what they may please to want?” The spokesman replies, that he wishes to beg for one of the daughters of the house as a wife for his godson, whom he presents. The father replies that the request is very flattering to him, and that this wish shall be gratified, hoping at the same time that it may be a cause of happiness to the two young people. He then goes in to his daughters, and brings out one of them, but not the