CRAVEN COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. 141 



gentle reader, that love became an epidemic in 

 Pineville, just like the fever, and that its exacerba- 

 tions were always greatest when the season was 

 drawing to a close. The proprietor of a plantation 

 in the neighborhood would invite the young people 

 to drive there on some afternoon and partake of 

 the luxuries of plantation life. Then every young 

 man hastened to secure a partner for the drive ; 

 and at the appointed hour, each in his gig (for in 

 in those days gigs were, and buggies were not), the 

 happy party would set off, bound on enjoyment. 

 The amusements on such occasions would be such 

 as spontaneously suggested themselves, but all was 

 apt to terminate in the dance. And sometimes it 

 would happen, that the eager lover, grasping at his 

 opportunity, would pop the question on the outward 

 drive, and if refused, the luckless wight would have 

 to endure the mortification of the homeward drive 

 — tHe-a-tete with her who had rejected the offer of 

 his love. Oh, blessed be the healing hand of time, 

 which can make the recollection of even such scenes 

 a source of enjoyment ! 



The serenade is one of the most obvious modes 

 of paying delicate attentions to a lady ; and those 

 who possessed musical skill frequently had their 

 talents put in requisition by young lovers. We 

 almost always remarked, however, the observance 

 of a sort of rigid impartiality in the performance of 

 this attention. If a serenading party went out, 



