146 HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SKETCH OF 



the morning all becomes quiet, and the parties have 

 sought their beds to recover strength for the duties 

 of the following day. 



And herein was exhibited the old-fashioned hospi- 

 tality of the planters. Every guest was lodged for 

 the night. Beds were arranged everywhere. If the 

 house was too small some out-building w^as arranged 

 for the occasion. And, O reader, if you were one 

 of the. young men, you would have enjoyed that 

 night, but if you had passed the first excitement of 

 young blood, and were entertaining any vague con- 

 ceptions of the blessing of repose after a night of 

 revelry, you were doomed to a cruel disappoint- 

 ment. Every device that ingenious youth can in- 

 vent is brought to disturb your repose. Perhaps on 

 entering your sleeping apartment you find your bed 

 suspended near the ceiling. If you succeed in de- 

 positing your wearied body, you are roused by the 

 entrance of a gang of roistering visitors, who come 

 to inquire after your repose. Well ! we have had 

 our share of the sport, and must not repine if we 

 have had to witness the day, or rather the night, of 

 retribution. In time, however, even the most rest- 

 less spirits are exhausted, and by the dawn of day 

 sleep comes to give repose to your wearied brow. 



If your lot gives you a bed in the house, your ears 

 are saluted soon after dawn by the fiddlers playing 

 at the door of the nuptial chamber the old air of 

 " Health to the Bride," and somehow it happens 



