A BACKWOODS "FROLIC." 221 



one of the wings of the double house. I had never 

 succeeded in acquiring the dances of my own country, 

 much less the extraordinary movements of those of 

 America; so I amused myself with looking on, and 

 watching the arrivals, who thronged in from all ends 

 and corners of the State. A great number of the young 

 women were light and graceful figures, and looked very 

 interesting on horseback, their cheeks flushed with their 

 quick ride. But they seemed as if they were going on 

 a pilgrimage, instead of coming to a ball, — for each fair 

 dame had a bundle of tolerable size at her saddle-bow ; 

 some of them were already known to me, and I assisted 

 them to alight. 



Meantime a long table was laid out before the house, 

 and surrounded with chairs, benches, &c. ; but as it was 

 impossible for all to find seats at once, the ladies were 

 accommodated first, and waited upon by the gentlemen. 

 The dinner consisted of roast beef, roast pork, potatoes, 

 sweet potatoes, maize bread, cakes, and coffee and milk, 

 and went off very well. Rutkin had brought a case of 

 wine for the ladies, which was soon emptied. After 

 dinner, a speech was made to the assembled public, 

 in honor of the birth-day of the United States, and 

 then dancing commenced again. Picturesque groups 

 w^ere formed here and there, occupied in various ways. 

 In one place, a party of strong-built, sun-burnt figures 

 lounged at full length on the grass, relating their shoot- 

 ing adventures ; further on, two figures, astride a fallen 

 tree, were playing a game of cards ; in another place, 

 a party leaping with a heavy stone in each hand, to 

 give them more impetus ; and a row of big fellows 

 Avere taking their siesta under the trees, only moving 

 19* 



