78 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



and accepted, many speeches were delivered, and many 

 essayed in amicable reply. The ladies then retired to 

 booths that had been erected at a little distance, to which 

 they were conducted by their partners, who returned to 

 the table, and having thus cleared for action, recommenced 

 a series of hearty rounds. However, as Kentuckians are 

 neither slow nor long at their meals, all were in a few min- 

 utes replenished, and after a few more draughts from the 

 bowl they rejoined the ladies and prepared for the dance. 

 " Double lines of a hundred fair ones extended along 

 the ground in the most shady part of the woods, while here 

 and there smaller groups awaited the merry trills of reels 

 and cotillions. A burst of music from violins, clarinets, 

 and bugles gave the welcome notice, and presently the 

 whole assemblage seemed to be gracefully moving through 

 the air. The ' hunting-shirts ' noAV joined in the dance, 

 their fringed skirts keeping time with the gowns of the 

 ladies, and the married people of either sex stepped in and 

 mixed with their children. Every countenance beamed 

 with joy, every heart leaped with gladness; no pride, no 

 pomp, no affectation were there; their spirits brightened 

 as they continued their exhilarating exercise, and care and 

 sorrow were flung to the winds. During each interval of 

 rest refreshments of all sorts were handed round, and while 

 the fair one cooled her lips with the grateful juice of the 

 melon, the hunter of Kentucky quenched his thirst with 

 ample draughts of well-tempered punch. 



