THE BALL. 97 



over. 'Now, a man cannot laugh in that fashion, and 

 hang on to a pin at the same time. I have tried 

 it, and know. First one finger began to slip, then 

 another loosened and gave way a little ; the mus- 

 cles of my hand would not obey my will to con- 

 tract. I found it impossible to retighten my grip ; 

 I knew it would probably be fatal to drop. I 

 endeavored to stop laughing. Now, it is a well- 

 known fact, that when one tries to stop laugh- 

 ing he can't. If you ever doubted this, reader, 

 never doubt it again. If any man strove to stop, 

 I did. My effort was vain. I fairly shook my- 

 self off the pin, and dropped. That sobered 

 me. The instant I struck the floor, all laugh- 

 ter departed. I saw Southwick coming. I seized 

 hold of the window-sill, the wood of which 

 was cedar; I sunk my nails deep into it; it 

 held. The next time he swung round the circle 

 I was saved by a miracle, that is, in a way 

 I cannot account for. I was Just poising my- 

 self for a plunge at the door, when the music 

 ceased, and my friend sat down. We all cheered 

 him immensely. I cheered louder than all the 

 rest. I never had greater cause to cheer. Every- 

 body complimented him. One exclaimed, " "W^iat 

 a free action ! " another, " How liberal in style ! " 

 I said, " Astonishing ! " We all saw that it had 

 made a great impression on the guides. They said 

 that " they had no idea folks danced so, down in 



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