THE BLACK-TAILED AND VIRGINIA DEER. .359 



red softer material were requested to bring chairs with 

 tile-in. The ball was an important event in that quiet 

 neighborhood, and caused much pleasurable excitement 

 among the young people it even proved a pleasant topic 

 of conversation among the old ; hence, when it came off, it 

 was attended by the beauty and chivalry of Blank Prairie. 

 The former were perfect specimens of rustic life, and the 

 latter were typical representatives of the ideal pioneers 

 who cared little for " biled " shirts, and tripped it away 

 gayly without coat or waistcoat, while some of them had 

 their trousers tucked inside their heavy cowhide boots. 

 The gentle sex evidently never paid much attention to the 

 fashions, for the dresses of the majority consisted of sim- 

 ple calicoes, which clung to their forms with the tightness 

 of a porous plaster. 



The band consisted of one fiddler, who was perched on a 

 chair that rested on two planks surmounting some barrels; 

 and though his position looked precarious, he seemed to 

 pay no attention to it, and to think of no such thing as a 

 backward tumble. When the company were assembled, 

 the band scratched his fiddle violently a few times, caused 

 it to give several excruciating screams, and after producing 

 several cat-like flourishes, he ordered all who wished to 

 dance to form on the floor for a "country" dance. When 

 the lines were in position, lie shouted out something like 

 the following: "Now, any of you who don't know how to 

 dance Monymusk had better get off the floor and sit on 

 the planks, because I don't want you to spile the fun of all 

 the rest." 



As nobody seemed inclined to move, he turned to a 

 young man near him, and said, " Jem Coffee-pot, do you 

 know how to dance this ?" 



Jem replied that he did. 



" I don't bleeve that," said the band, " 'cause I've seen 

 you try it on before, and you couldn't dance worth a cent. 

 But never mind ; drive ahead now, as I see Susan Bum pas 

 is your partner." 



"All ready?" 



