The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-24

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The bright sun ola July morning has not yei
lost ~ frst glory which it lends to tpe pute
stuoet bere3 the visitors are hurryiug to the
sphae TO talte their morning draught and all y
brightness and beauty.
, The first ball Of the season--to which allu-
sion was made in our last sketch--came off last
evening. The cheerful music of fine band
! gave earnest of its commencement long ere we
were ready to join the festive scene. scene
il truly was, and the variety of costumes and
colors in constant motion formed gay piece
of human Mosaic. The hum of soft voices filled
the spacious room when we entered, and bright
eyes flashed in the brilliant light; but our at
teniion was soon riveted on a Young and beau
tful girl, who was tripping gaily down the
dance as If her soul were in her feet, little ~
they were. She was almost, not quite, bru-
nette, with pair of melting black eyes, shaded
by long and glossy ashes--a bewitching mouth
daintily curved and richly colored--soft hair,
bright and black, and twisted with simple
taste behind delicatey formed and exquisitely
crossed. 1t was Miss c. belle from Phila-
dslphia, who led off the festivities of the even
ing as the partner Of young Virginian, nephew
of the Secretary OF War. 1 tpt
Among the strangers present, was party
from the adjoining county. The young ladies
belonging to this party were certainly valuable
acquisitions to our company, as they were
pretty, smightly, and beautiful dancers. We
particularly noticed one Of them--a tall, fair,
fine looking girl, attired in white. She was
pointed out to me as Miss W., grand niece of
the immortal WASHINGTON.
The leading feature OF this ball was the
waltzing, which is certainly most monotonous
amusement An unceasing circuit Of the vacant
space wreathing Of arms and clasping Of
waisls--and the only variation we were able to
discover was an increase of speed, which rem
ders the movements of the parties more con-
| spcuous. At first sight, one would think it
was quite an easy matter to catch the step, but
in reality it requires study and frequent practice
to accomplish it even with tolerable grace; and
the best dancers introduce varieties, which, like
the shakes and flourishes in singing, so disguise
the original movement with ornamental addi-
tons. that you would hardly recognize to what
family it belonged. The scene Mt one time
presented sight essentially bewildering in
it's character. There must have been at least
half dozen couple on the floor at once, pass-
ing round and round with perseverance, and
solemnity perfectly astonishing, when it is re-
membered that many of the individuals thus en-
gagged are delicate, fragile looking creatures
who certainly do not appear able to endure the
fatigue. The scene is one which might incite
the most tagging goose-qnill to flowing SEN
fences, but there are no lady fingers which can
grasp pen potent enough to do justice to
subject upon which so much has already been
written To this dance the yisters here seem
devoted No evening is complete without it;
and to surpass all competition in dancing the
Polka is glory enough for our bellies
J.Ixy H..
ing, boisterous boy, who is welcome to the heart
and arms of ala little plump urchin, whose
life is one long holiday of fun and frolic. He
is, of course, very much petted among us, though
not spoiled owing to the remarkable sweetness
of his nature which receives indulgence as the
flower drinks its dew, only to become more
light ard fragrant from the rich overflow of nu-
triment. He care up to our cabin door an hour
ago on tiptoe, shaking his head and looking
so!emnly wise. Sweet little Frank he raised
his blue eyes 80 peadingly to my face that
may be pardoned if he did leave me an un6n-
ished sketch, for there WAS no resisting such
Importantly. So taking his fat little hand We
left pen and paper,fully expecting to find Franks
little sweetheart in the spring 81
"Look, Miss Mary, look !" amt they pretty?"
said the child, his eyes sparkling with the brim-
mings of a heart crowded with pleasure, as he
stopped to pull from the loose soil long, slim
wild flower, and close beside it we discovered
four speckled eggs in the nest of darling little
ground bird, which few away and came back
again futtering most pleadingly.
Our gratified look we suppose satisfied the
child, for casting aregretful look on the graceful
innocent, and taking another peep at the frail
nest which constituted its treasure, he bounded
up the slope like greyhound wild for the
cifase, leaving US to wander on listening to the
joyous song gushes Of the crazy-hearted little
birds, as they fluttered from tree to tree.
And now, dear reader, having briefly explained
the asterisk's in our SKETCH we must close, for a
painful suspicion is flashing over our mind that
We are writing most ilegibly.