CLEVELAND. 45 



rather more than seventy years of age. Tall and 

 somewhat stiff in their persons, with formal and 

 rather ceremonious manners, observing the strictest 

 etiquette, not only with their visitors, but with each 

 other, they were nevertheless unbounded in their 

 hospitality, and dispensed their bounties with an 

 unsparing hand. Their dress was the very picture 

 of neatness and propriety. I can see them now in 

 their large full caps beautifully plaited and as white 

 as snow, with ruffs round their necks, and wliite 

 kerchiefs pinned round their shouJders, and cover- 

 ing part of their stiff chocolate coloured silk 

 gowns. These were made with long waists and 

 short sleeves, having large ruffles attached to them 

 above the elbows. A huge gold watch was ap- 

 pended to the girdle, and they wore rather high- 

 heeled shoes, with little formal buckles attached to 

 them. Their hair was perfectly white, and was 

 disposed in what may be called sausage curls 

 beneath the cap. They wore on their arms a sort 

 of mitten, or gloves with half of the fingers cut off, 

 which enabled them to ply their needles the more 

 readily. Such was the dress of these worthy ladies, 

 who (seated in large arm-chairs on each side of the 

 fire place, with a small table near them on which 

 their work-baskets were placed), were ready to 

 receive any visitors who might call upon them. 

 The arrival of any one, was the signal for the ser- 

 vants to bring in a well-furnished tray of refresh- 



