From colleagues and old schoolmates came cheerful good wishes clothed in friendly jokes. (Para. 4)
Meaning: Colleagues and old schoolmates greeted the couple happily with good wishes that were expressed in friendly jokes.
Please notice that the sentence is inverted. The usual or common order of the sentence is: Cheerful good wishes clothed in friendly jokes came from colleagues and old schoolmates.
colleague: n. fellow worker
He told the story to one of his colleagues who told it to a news writer. 他把这事告诉了他的一位同事，而这位同事又把这事告诉一个新闻记者。
cheerful: a. happy
The child gave a cheerful cry when he saw his mother. 孩子看到母亲时高兴地叫了起来。