EPISODES 



487 



beds; and the genial warmth of the season seemed in- 

 clined to favor their repose. 



The free, single-hearted Kentuckian, bold, erect, and 

 proud of his Virginian descent, had, as usual, made arrange- 

 ments for celebrating the day of his country's independence. 

 The whole neighborhood joined with one consent. No 

 personal 'invitation was required where every one was wel- 

 comed by his neighbor, and from the governor to the 

 guider of the plough, all met with light hearts and merry 

 faces. 



It was indeed a beautiful day ; the bright sun rode in 

 the clear blue heavens ; the gentle breezes wafted around 

 the odors of the gorgeous flowers; the little birds sang 

 their sweetest songs in the woods, and the fluttering insects 

 danced in the sunbeams. Columbia's sons and daughters 

 seemed to have grown younger that morning. For a whole 

 week or more many servants and some masters had been 

 busily engaged in clearing an area. The undergrowth had 

 been carefully cut down, the low boughs lopped off, and 

 the grass alone, verdant and gay, remained to carpet the syl- 

 van pavilion. Now the wagons were seen slowly moving 

 along under their load of provisions which had been pre- 

 pared for the common benefit. Each denizen had freely 

 given his ox, his ham, his venison, his Turkeys and other 

 fowls. Here were to be seen flagons of every beverage used 

 in the country ; " la belle riviere " had opened her finny 

 stores, the melons of all sorts, peaches, plums, and pears, 

 would have sufficed to stock a market. In a word, Ken- 

 tucky, the land of abundance, had supplied a feast for her 

 children. A purling stream gave its waters freely, while 

 the grateful breezes cooled the air. Columns of smoke 

 from the newly kindled fires rose above the trees; fifty 

 cooks or more moved to and fro as they plied their trade ; 

 waiters of all qualities were disposing the dishes, the glasses 

 and the punch-bowls, amid vases filled with rich wines. 

 "Old Monongahela" filled many a barrel for the crowd. 



