136 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 



which it would have been .difficult to trace directly, though 

 the fact that a large spring near the plantation of one of our 

 well-known, hospitable, country gentlemen, had been selected 

 as the scene of the festival, was quite endorsement enough 

 on that score. 



Before the arrival of the important day, all the minor pre- 

 parations of gallantry had been made, the various parties 

 of young men and girls having paired off, for the ride out 

 to the spring which was seven miles distant and satisfac- 

 torily adjusted all other preliminaries, for the occasion. The 

 gentry of both sexes from the town, and from the principal 

 plantations for miles around, commenced gathering from 

 every direction, and at an early hour on the auspicious morn- 

 ing, moved towards the place of meeting. 



The party of which I made one, consisted of four or five 



of the gayest and handsomest girls of our town of H , 



with gallants " to match " if I may be permitted the modest 

 insinuation I Most of us were mounted on the dashing and 

 spirited saddle-horses peculiar to our State, and, with the 

 fearless command of accustomed riders, we gave way to our 

 hilarious mood, and kept them up to their metal. Our girls 

 usually ride with a boldness and a skill approached only by 

 the daughters of the English country gentlemen. Those 

 who preferred a more staid gait, fell back with the rear guard 

 of the party, which consisted, principally, of elderly gentle- 

 men, the fathers of these young girls, and other gray-haired 

 citizens who yet loved fan and good things. 



It was a delicious spring morning, and our hearts bounded 

 merrily with the elastic movement of our horses. Our road 

 was literally over flowers, for the "barrens," through which 

 we swept, form the richest natural gardens in the world far 

 more varied and chastely beautiful than the prairies. The 

 feet of our horses were stained at every stride with the red 

 juice of wild strawberries, that crouched in luscious clusters 

 beneath the tinted shadows of the over-hanging flowers, and 

 the fresh, soft breeze bore up to us the delicate aroma of 



