92 



THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



hat was to be seen in the whole party. The ladies were 

 neatly attired for the occasion, but silk and satin dresses 

 were conspicuous only by their entire absence. Bright- 

 colored ribbons and good cheer prevailed among the as- 

 sembled females. Let us now return to the landing of the 

 guests whom we have carefully surveyed on the steamer's 

 deck. The moment this vessel had been made fast the 

 party seated on the upper deck arose and descended to 

 the gang-plank, over which they passed, the ladies resting 

 gracefully on the arms of their escorts, the bride and 

 groom being the third couple to land. The party passed 

 forward over the smooth but gradually ascending surface 

 of the rock, which has already been described, in the same 

 order they had left the steamer, until they were hidden in 

 the grove. The moment they stepped from this rock they 

 found the earth covered with a thick layer of beautiful 

 moss, extending in every direction about them for many 

 rods, while in front there had been arranged an elegant 

 arch, formed by entwining the branches of two neighboring 

 trees, and this bower had been handsomely decorated with 

 wild flowers, conspicuous among which were the wild roses 

 that abound along the shores of this lake. When the first 

 couple reached this spot they halted, the lady dropped the 

 arm of her escort and passed to the right, the gentleman 

 passing to the left; then each faced about towards the 

 landing-place, thus making room for the others who formed 

 under the beautiful arch. The bride and eroom were the 

 third couple to take their place in nature's bower, and 

 when they had faced towards the lake there were now seen 

 standing to the right of the bride three fair ladies, while 



