The Argosy — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

At a German Stiver Wedding. OL had never seen before out of his white apron and paper cap; to-day he was arrayed in shining black broadcloth and a resplendent blue necktie, which I was informed were his identical wedding garments twenty-five years before. I inferred from the constrained manner in which the worthy baker used his arms, and from the alternately un- buttoned buttons of his waistcoat, that he had been of a considerably slimmer figure when he first won the heart of the Frau Baker, who, in her wedding dress of black satin, looked like a comfortable pincushion. Her head was crowned with her original wreath of orange blossoms and silver-gilt leaves, and Julie stood close behind her to arrange this rather embarrassing ornament, which would go all on one side when- _ ever the energetic bakeress jumped up to receive a guest. Julie had a reversionary interest in its preservation, I gathered, from the fire of small jokes which her solicitude provoked. The table in front of our sofa was spread with a motley collection of little articles, many of them silver-gilt to suit the occasion, which had been presented to the bridal pair by the assembled guests. Fortunately I had provided myself with an ornamental workbox of fascinating manufacture, which was the very thing for a wedding present, combining the useful and the beautiful in a manner most attractive to German hearts. After the first compliments had passed between my hosts and myself, the members of the company were severally introduced to me, and as there were already about thirty squeezed into the-parlour, and the party increased every moment, this operation took a con- siderable time. Each new lady acquaintance had a question to ask me about England, or my family, whose details they soon mastered correctly ; while the men grunted almost unintelligible remarks from behind their pipes, which I believe were observations and inquiries concerning the commercial and agricultural condition of my native land. Presently a movement on the outer edge of the little crowd round our sofa of honour announced that the arrangements in the hall were complete, and a rather undignified rush was made towards the long table, Herr and Frau Bartles alone proceeding arm in arm, in token of being, as Artemus Ward says, ‘‘very much married.” My hostess gave a great sigh of contentment as she looked down the whole length of the long table, and noted how well covered it appeared. , “ We were up all night,” she whispered, “ baking and preparing— then at seven o’clock we dressed and went to church, and then the company began arriving so soon! JI felt anxious for the table’s appearance, for Julie is but a girl, and I had to leave all the decora- tion to her. Heaven be thanked, does it not look beautiful ?” The littlke woman was blushing and bridling with pleasure and excitement, and nodding encouragement to Julie, who, in a muslin polonaise wonderfully like my own, was dispensing big white china cups of coffee to the ladies, while the gentlemen helped themselves ECORnniclooOoks (CO)