f
Americans. After a mother has assured herself that a certain girl whom
her son fancies would make him a good wife, she, with two or three
relatives, will send word to the girl's parents that they will call at
a certain time, and stay over night. While there the object of their
visit will be made known and the matter discussed. If the girl's
parents are ever so willing, they will not give their consent at the
first visit, but will take the matter into consideration. The friends
are invited to call again in two or three weeks for an answer. A third
or fourth visit may be made before a final answer is obtained. At the
last visit the father of the girl says, in reply to a request for an
answer, that the girl does not belong to him. He says he gave her to
his brother. The brother then says he gave her to his sister, etc.,
until the person is reached who can give her away. This man rises and
says, "I give our daughter to Mr. and Mrs. ---- as a handmaiden." The
question now being settled, refreshments are served and the company
rejoices until a late hour. Sometimes the foregoing proceedings are
witnessed from an opening in the roof by the young man who is most
interested and who is anxiously awaiting the result. During the period
of the betrothal, the young man is allowed to make but one visit. He is
not allowed to kiss his betrothed until after marriage. The Assyrian
idea of a virgin is a pure maiden who is not married nor has ever been
kissed by any man.

Two weeks before the wedding the young man's parents make another call
to settle the amount of dowry with which to purchase wedding garments
for the bride. The wedding feast lasts two or three days. On the last
day a company of the groom's friends go to bring the bride. Dressed in
her wedding garments, and seated on a fine horse she is taken to the
groom's home. The company make merry on the way with music of drum and
flute, and dancing. The horse is stopped about fifty yards from the
house, and the groom appears on the roof of his father's house with
three red apples in his hands. Kissing each one he tries to throw it
over the bride. When the apples strike the ground there is a crowd of
boys ready to scramble for them as there is a superstition that the
lucky boy will be the next to marry. The bride now goes to her new
home.

The wedding ceremony, which is performed by a minister and a deacon, is
taken largely from the Bible. It lasts about two hours, during which
tim