THE WEDDING
"I WISH I could have been there," thought Osman.
It was Friday morning, and the little boy was sitting beside his mother
while she described the wedding-festival given in honour of two dear
friends. She and her husband had spent all day Thursday at the
bridegroom's house.
"It was a grand time, my little son. I wish you could have enjoyed it
with us, but you were too ill to leave home," said Osman's mother, as
she lovingly patted his cheek.
"Was there a great crowd, mamma?"
"Yes, indeed, for the young couple have hosts of friends. The ladies, of
course, rode in carriages, and the men were on horseback. A band of
music played lively tunes as we escorted the young bride to her new
home.
"When we reached the house, the bridegroom stood waiting in the doorway.
He led his bride to the bower in the bridal chamber, and, leaving her
there, went to the 'place of greeting' to receive his gentlemen
friends."
"You helped in making the bower, didn't you, mamma?"
"Yes. I went to the new home on Monday, with other friends and the
relatives of the bride. The wedding-outfit and the presents had already
been brought by some trusty porters.
"After we had refreshed ourselves with a lunch of coffee and sweetmeats,
we began to decorate the bridal chamber. We hung the bride's pretty
dresses, her shawls and prayer-carpet, her embroidered sheets and
towels, on cords fastened along the walls.
"Then we chose one corner of the room for the bower. We hung up fine
embroideries and festoons of gauze, and fastened numbers of artificial
flowers here and there in the draperies. When it was done it was
lovely!"
Osman's mother sighed with delight as she thought of it.
"But our work did not stop there, my dear. Oh, no. We placed the most
precious wedding-presents in glass cases, so every one could see and
admire them. Then we hung garlands of flowers on the walls of the room.
It was very beautiful now.
"When this room was finished, we went into the next one and set up the
new furniture and bedding, the beautiful candelabra, the smoking-set,
and the kitchen ware."
"What did you do on Tuesday, mamma?"
"We went with the bride to the bath. When it was over, she put on
borrowed clothing. Some bad fortune might come to her, if she did not
follow this old custom."
"You spent Wednesday with the bride, too, didn't you?"
"Certainly, Osman. That is a very important day in the wedding-festival.
I went to the bride's house quite early in the day, for we are very
close friends. I helped her in receiving the bridegroom's mother and
other relatives. All her special friends gathered there with me. We
formed in a double row and helped the other guests up the stairs.
"I hope my dear Morgiana will be good friends with her new mother. As
they sat side by side, the old lady passed sugar from her own mouth to
that of her daughter-in-law."
"Why was that, mamma?"
"It was a token of the good feeling there will be between them, Osman."
"Dear me, a wedding-festival is a grand thing, isn't it? I wish I could
have gone Thursday with you and papa. That was the greatest day of
all."
"Yes, it was a very pleasant time for every one. There was an
entertainment in the place of greeting for the men, and another for the
women in the bride's rooms. Some gipsy girls danced and sang for us and
we had refreshments."
"What was the bride doing all this time, mamma?"
"As soon as the bridegroom had led her to the bridal bower and gone
away, her veil was raised. We could now look at her beautiful face as
much as we liked, and admire her wedding-gown and presents."
"Did many poor people come in to look at the pretty things?" asked
Osman. His voice was rather sad as he said the word "poor." He pitied
those who did not have a lovely home like himself, and plenty to eat and
to wear.
"It is so hard to be poor and have to work hard from early morning till
late at night," he often thought.
"Yes, indeed, Osman. The house was filled with people all day long. No
one was turned away from the door," answered his mother. "I saw women in
shabby clothing standing beside the most richly dressed ladies. They
seemed to enjoy the festival very much."
"When did the bridegroom enter, mamma?"
"As soon as the evening prayer had been recited in the 'place of
greeting.' Then the bridegroom hurriedly left his men friends and
started for the bridal bower."
Osman began to laugh. "I know what the men did then, mamma. I have heard
papa tell about it. They pelted the bridegroom with old shoes and struck
his back many a sharp blow. No wonder he hurried up-stairs as fast as he
could go."
The boy's mother smiled. "And I can tell you what happened after the
door closed behind him, although we visitors now took our leave. I well
remember my own wedding.
"The bride kissed his hand as he entered. He knelt down on her veil and
made a short prayer. After this a mirror was held in front of the young
couple by an old woman friend of the bride, so they could see their
faces in it side by side.
"Then sugar was passed from the young man's mouth to that of the bride.
It was a symbol of the sweetness of their future life.
"But, my dear child, I have been so busy talking I did not notice the
time. I must leave you to dress for the banquet at the home of our young
friends. Run away and play with Selim."