Highland Wedding

              From: Guerrant, The Galax Gatherers ( 1910)
A HIGHLAND WEDDING.
Once when preaching on the Raccoon Fork of Goose Creek, where there never was a
church, my host, Uncle Zachariah Smith, told me of two remarkable Highland lassies
whom he termed the “ boss gals” on the creek. Besides being good Christians, they were
the best workers in the country. They could fell more trees, split more rails, hoe more
corn, and raise more pumpkins than any women he knew. I concluded to hunt up these
fine women, and get them to come to the little school- house where we were holding a
meeting. Their log- cabin was so remote and secluded, I got lost in the wilderness trying to
find it, and only succeeded by climbing a mountain and surveying the deep valleys below.
Their home was a poor, little log- cabin, a big loom filling almost all the puncheon- shed in
front of the only room. Their aged father and two boys made up the family. Over the
home a mountain hung almost perpendicularly, but it was cleared and cultivated in corn
to the top. On inquiry, I learned that these two girls had borne their part, with the elder
brother, in clearing off the forest of great oaks, and splitting the rails, and fencing and
cultivating it with hoes. It was that, or no corn.
I noticed that the elder brother seemed to be dressed up, having on a new pair of shoes
and pants, on a week day. I made no inquiry, as it was not my business. It is safer in this
country to attend strictly to one’s own business. After awhile, I saw a young man riding a
mule over the top of a mountain, bearing aloft a flag. Knowing the martial spirit of the
Highlanders, I inquired if that was a declaration of war. Dave ( the elder brother) said
there was a wedding on Possum Creek, and the man was the brother of the bride coming
after the groom. I then understood why Dave was dressed up, and inquired if he was the
groom. He “ admitted the soft impeachment,” as the newspapers say, and explained that
when a Highland lass was to be married, she sent her big brother after the groom to avoid
any delay or disappointment. Dave appeared resigned, and told me the name of the bride
was Polly Cynthy Ann, and they would be married as soon as Uncle Zebedee, the
preacher, could cross the river and get there sometime that evening.
Soon the big brother, fully armed, came prepared to bring the groom-- dead or alive.
Riding up to the rail- fence in front of the cabin, he inquired of Dave, if he was ready. He
answered “ yes,” and donning his coat, mounted his mule and rode away. He forgot to
insist on my going, as I had no horse to ride, otherwise I would have gone, as everybody
is welcome in the Highlands.
My good host, Uncle Zachariah, went, and returned to tell me that Pollv Ann was the
‘ boss gal' on Possum Creek, saying, “ Old Bill, her father, gave her a big wedding dinner,
of pork and beans and sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pies and sweet- cakes enough for
everybody.”
“ Soon after the wedding dinner, Polly Ann got her hoe and said, “ Dave, Pop’s craps is
in the weeds, and this is no time to be idle; come ahead. Dave went ahead, and when I left
Possum Creek, Dave and Polly was knocking weeds high as their heads”; and Uncle