122 FLORAL CEREMONIES. 



Let us now take our readers to a northern 

 clime, where the mighty heart of Nature yet 

 beats warmly beneath her rugged exterior, and 

 the bright flowers open their perfumed chalices 

 in the green valleys, heedless of the snow- 

 covered mountains which frown upon them on 

 every side: to Sweden, where "from the 

 bank of the river nearest Semb, a little fleet of 

 gaily decorated boats is pushing off. In the 

 principal boat sits the lady of Semb, her eyes 

 turned with quiet enjoyment now on the beau- 

 tiful scenes of Nature, now on the still more 

 beautiful objects that are nearer to her two 

 happy human beings. Beside her, more like a 

 little angel than a child, sits the little Hulda ; a 

 garland of gay flowers twined among her golden 

 locks. But the looks of all were turned upon 

 the bride and bridegroom ; and they were, 

 indeed, beautiful to look upon, so inwardly 

 happy did they seem. Other boats contained 

 the wedding guests. The men who rowed had 

 all garlands on their yellow straw hats, and 

 thus to the sounds of gay music they passed on 

 to the chapel. This was a simple building, 



