Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-01-08


picked up the apples, during which operation,
many heads were accidentally brought in COP
tact, and, what was very remarkable, it was
invariably male and female head that came
in contact. 1t must have been something in
the combs. ..
A more definite and satisfactory account of
the cause of the overthrow of the table can be
given. During Mr.. Gulic's absence, Mr. Fos-
ter entered and seated himself in the chair left
vacant by the side of Miss Becky. The sight
of him in that place had no tendency to COM
pose Mr.. Gulics nerves and to increase his
physical strength, while it had tendency to
increase both the gravity of the apples and of
his countenance. Accordingly when the bas-
ket was set on the table, it overthrow it.
When order was restored, pairing was re-
sumed. Mr.. Foster retained his seat by Miss
Becky, and with silver knife, daintily pro-
ceeded in the work he was evidently afraid
of soling his hands. Benjamin took his place
by the side of very quiet girl who was not
pleased with the exchange of seats and part
ners. He did not sit SO near Miss Mills as he
did to Miss Becky. Hepared slowly, silently
and thickly.
But, however great may have been his loss,
it was counterbalanced by Miss Becky's gain.
She was manifes,lY delighted with the ex-
change. She talked and laughed very loudly,
though her partners ideas of gentilty led him
to speak in a tone little elevated above whis-
per. This was both pleasant and painful to
Miss Becky. 1t was pleasant and indicative
of confidential communications painful, as it
made his complimentary remarks inaudibIe to
The company. She was driven TO the necessity
of asking him in tone adopted to set ca RS
listening, What did you say!' and again to
repeat some of his remarks with large ex-
PLANTATION point after them. BY this means,
she managed to convey to Ben and others what
was going on between them.
Ben at length determined, as a means of
self-defence or of retaliation, to appear to en-
JOY his position. Asa preliminary, he brought
his chair nearer 10 that of Miss Mills, and
leaned over further, so that his parings might
fall nearer the centre of the pan. He put
forth his best skill in pairing, and made few
general observations which were replied TO in
very sweet tone of voice. Ere long they
found themselves talking sense, as he after
wards said-a fact that evidently throws the
date of our history somewhat into the past
He began to feel better satisfied with the ex-
change he had made, and was stimulated to
thought-the one necessary to the conversa-
tion with Miss Mills, the other relating to a
comparison of her qualities, personal, mental,
aad social, with those of Miss Becky. The lat
ter led him 10 make irrelevant replies 10 Miss
Mills remarks.
By ten o'clock so busily had they worked,
the apples were finished, and they proceeded
TO playing games. Several were proposed,
but they were all objected to by Miss Sophia
Stebbings, who had been one quarter at a
boarding school. This threw quite a shade
over the prospect. Miss Sophia was asked
to name play. She replied that her taste
was no rule for others-she was peculiar
Miss Benson the mistress of the boarding
schooD thought her remarkably peculiar
She must confess she should prefer some liter
airy conversation to any thing else.
So should l. said Mr.. Guile, gravely. If
| knew where 10 find it, would 60 out and
get basket full
This remark made Miss Sophia's face very
red, and all the rest of the company very good
natured. 1t was followed by an explosion of
laughter, which was followed by sundry plays
in which the intellectual young lady gradually
became more and more interested. Finally, it
was voted mem. con. to have game of hide
and seek. The hiding and hunting were in
couples. Miss Becky and Mr.. Foster were
together, and so were Miss Mills and Mr.. Gu
lie. Mr.. Gulic had two things to attend to-
One was to secure good hiding place for
himself and partner, and the other to observe
that of Miss Becky and Mr.. Foster. The
latter took possession of small pantry, which
was known in Mr.. Jones' establishment by the
name of pie-pantry. They remained in it for
some time-until, overhearing the expressed
purpose of the seekers to search it, they stole
ont, and entered silently an apartment which
had already been examined. Mr.. Gulic,
shrewdly suspecting that they would return
to the pantry, entered it, and placed in the on
ly chair it contained, pumpkin pie, which
was made, not in ordinary tin, but in an earth
EN- vessel which formed the section of sphere.
The depth of the pumpkin pie was an inch and
half in the centre, from which point it
shoaled gradually TO the circumference As
Guile had foreseen, Becky and her companion
re-entered the pantry. A shrek was soon
heard, which caused Ben to seize candle,
and rush to see what was the matter, or rath-
er, to speak with strict accuracy, to let others
see. The demolished pie, and Miss Becky's
soled dress, revealed the cause of the outcry.
For a moment there was contest between
feeling of sympathy for the poor girls discom-
future, and a sense of the ludcrous the latter
prevailed, however. Sundry Of the girls were
taken with sudden fits of coughing, and others
were seized with an Unsuitable desire for water,
which led them to go in search of it in divers
improbable places. Miss Becky at once set out
for home. She was attended by Mr.. Foster,
"a partial for her mishap.
An animated discussion Of the auestion-