a bird sitting on the window sill chirping for some time; the bird in the cage dying that morning; a dog howling, and the postman forgetting to deliver a letter to the bride until he was a good way off, and had to return.  Some of these were defined for good, but most of them were evil omens.  The ceremony was generally performed at the minister’s residence, which was often a considerable distance off.  The marriage party generally walked all the way, but if the distance was unusually great, the company rode the journey, and this was called “a riding wedding.”  There were two companies—­the bride’s party and the bridegroom’s party.  The bride’s party met in the bride’s parents’ house, the best man being with them, and the groom’s party met in his parents’ house, the best maid being with them—­the males conducting the females to their respective parties.  At the time appointed the bride’s party left first, followed immediately by the groom’s party—­each company headed by the respective fathers.  They so arranged their walk that both parties would reach the minister’s house together.  As soon as the ceremony was concluded, there was a rush on the part of the young men to get the first kiss of the newly-made wife.  This was frequently taken by the clergyman himself, a survival of an old custom said to have been practised in the middle ages.  This custom is referred to in the following old song.  The bridegroom, addressing the minister, says:—­

   “It’s no very decent for you to be kissing,
    It does not look weel wi’ the black coat ava,
    ’Twould hae set you far better tae hae gi’en us your blessing,
    Than thus by such tricks to be breaking the law. 
    Dear Watty, quo Robin, it’s just an auld custom,
    And the thing that is common should ne’er be ill taen,
    For where ye are wrong, if ye hadna a wished him
    You should have been first.  It’s yoursel it’s to blame.”

The party now returned in the following order:  first, the two fathers in company together, then the newly-married couple, behind them the best man and the best maid, and the others following in couples as they might arrange.  There were frequently as many as twenty couples.  On coming within a mile or so of the young couple’s house, where the mother of the young good man was waiting, a few of the young men would start on a race home.  This race was often keenly contested, and was termed running the brooze or braize.  The one who reached the house first and announced the happy completion of the wedding, was presented with a bottle of whiskey and a glass, with which he returned to meet the marriage procession, and the progress of the procession was generally so arranged that he would meet them before they arrived at the village or town where the young couple were to be resident.  He was therefore considered their first foot, and distributed the contents of his bottle among the party, each drinking to the health of the young married