EPISODES 489 



ished under the action of so many agents of destruction, I 

 need not say, nor is it necessary that you should listen to 

 the long recital. Many a national toast was offered and 

 accepted, many speeches were delivered, and many essayed 

 in amicable reply. The ladies then retired to booths that 

 had been erected at a little distance, to which they were 

 conducted by their partners, who returned to the table, and 

 having thus cleared for action, recommenced a series of 

 hearty rounds. However, as Kentuckians are neither slow 

 nor long at their meals, all were in a few minutes replen- 

 ished, and after a few more draughts from the bowl, they 

 rejoined the ladies and prepared for the dance. 



Double lines of a hundred fair ones extended along the 

 ground in the most shady part of the woods, while here 

 and there smaller groups awaited the merry trills of reels 

 and cotillons. A burst of music from violins, clarionets, 

 and bugles gave the welcome notice, and presently the 

 whole assemblage seemed to be gracefully moving through 

 the air. The " hunting-shirts " now joined in the dance, 

 their fringed skirts keeping time with the gowns of the 

 ladies, and the married people of either sex stepped in and 

 mixed with their children. Every countenance beamed 

 with joy, every heart leaped with gladness ; no pride, no 

 pomp, no affectation were there ; their spirits brightened 

 as they continued their exhilarating exercise, and care and 

 sorrow were flung to the winds. During each interval of 

 rest refreshments of all sorts were handed round, and while 

 the fair one cooled her lips with the grateful juice of the 

 melon, the hunter of Kentucky quenched his thirst with 

 ample draughts of well-tempered punch. 



I know, reader, that had you been with me on that day 

 you would have richly enjoyed the sight of this national 

 fete champitre. You would have listened with pleasure to 

 the ingenuous tale of the lover, the wise talk of the elder 

 on the affairs of the State, the accounts of improvement in 

 stock and utensils, and the hopes of continued prosperity 



