PLEASANT GEEETING. 77 



of her pleasure in sharing her husband's ex- 

 pressions of hospitality. 



The wanderers, seated by the fire, had fresh 

 clothes, warm and dry, presented to them in re- 

 turn for their drenched garments. The blaze of 

 the wood logs illumined the cottage, and the 

 sight of poultry told of good cheer, when the 

 host expressed his regret "that the travellers 

 had not arrived three weeks earlier ; for," said 

 he, " it was our wedding-day. My father gave 

 us a good house-warming, and you might have 

 fared better ; but if you can eat bacon, with eggs 

 and a broiled chicken, you shall have that. I 

 have no whisky; but my father has some ex. 

 cellent cider. I'll go for a keg of it — ^it's only 

 three miles, so I'll be back before Eliza hss 

 cooked your supper." In a minute, through the 

 pouring of the rain, which fell in torrents, the 

 galloping of his horse was heard. Meantime the 

 negroes ground some coffee, and bread was 

 baked by the fair young wife. The cloth was 

 set, and all arranged, when the clattering of 

 hoofs told the husband's return. He entered, 

 bearing a two-gallon keg of cider. His eyes 

 beamed with benevolent pleasure at the adven- 

 ture, while, seated by the fire, he filled a bowl 

 with the sparkling juice. Supper over, part 

 of the bedding was arranged for the guests. 

 Sweetly they slept till the return of morning, 



