The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-11-07

ror of Mrs. Jones, who was sure the house
would be burnt, with all things animate
and inanimate thereunto appertainng
To make sure of saving something, she
seized heavy iron kettle filed with wa
ter, and carried it so far from the house
that it would not be likely to be set on
fire by the falling sparks.
As soon as the chimney was fairly on
fire, both the flame and the smoke seemed
to think all the fun lay in that direction.
They accordingly went up the chimney as
steadily as if they had never gone any
where else. The smoke in the room, re-
ceiving no reinforcement, stole quietly
out of the open door, and disappeared as
quickly as possible.
The room was then put in order; a ta-
ble was placed in the centre, and all the
chairs in the house, except one of Mr..
Jones', were ranged close to each other
around the walls of the room.
BY "early candle light" about twenty
girls were assembled. They were as talk
ative as it may be supposed twenty girls,
in room without their mothers or men,
would be. "Why don't the gentlemen
Gomez" was asked mentally by more than
one. AT length footsteps were heard ap-
prosching. The girls who happened to
be standing took their seats. All the
chairs on the side Of the room opposite
the door were, in moment, filled with
maidens as demure, for the time being, as
the most precise could desire. Suddenly
there was a loud stamping on the door
step, q very energetic way of divesting
ones boots of snow or dust, preparatory
to an entrance. The stamping, and the
faint knock which succeeded, were fol-
lowed within by most profound silence,
which was broken only by the suspirations
of one whose ideal beauty of form was
manifestly either the hour-gla or the
wasp. Keziah opened the door, and the
young gentlemen found themselves in full
view of an unbroken line of silent beauty,
in the face Of which they were expected to
advance. They faltered--each pressed
his neighbor to go forward. No little
confusion was apparent. Among other
truths then and there illustrated, was the
important one that geometry cannot claim
a monopoly of angles After some delay,
an entrance was effected. The chairs op-
posite the girls were secured.
Along the lines thus formed, there was
a silence as deep and almost as expressive
as that which sometimes precedes a bat
tie. After while, there were some whis-
perings on the part of the girls, and a
suppressed gigglc; but the young men
preserved a profound silence and a most
praiseworthy gravity. The seats seemed
somewhat harder than those to which they
had been accustomed; and it was pretty
plain that most of them wished they had
left their hands at home
A rap, as with walking stick, was
heard at the door THAT is Mr.. Fos-
ter" whispered one. Miss Becky blushed
at the sound either of the knock or the
name. Keziah opened the door, and Mr.
Benjamin f. Guile stood before her,
dressed in his best. He walked in with
as much dignity as if he had come from
California instead of the chamber over the
kitchen. He sat down, and for moment
initiated the gravity of his peers. He
then turned to the most solemn one pres
ent, and asked him what was the state of
the moonshine. No answer was given;
but the question greatly lightened the pres
sure of the constraint under which all pres
ent labored. Conversation began, at first
indeed, in whispers, but soon several spoke
out loud.
II was under the impression" said Mr.
G., "that this was to be an Apple-Bee,
but don't see the apples"
Bring them on" said one of the bold
est, "let US have something to do"
Ben and Keziah then brought corn
basket full of apples, which were placed
on the table. A tin pan was given to
each damsel. The young men then dis
tributed the apples, and the work of pa
ring began. AS there Were no pans for
the gentlemen, it was necessary for each
one to sit beside a lady, and drop his pa
rings into the pan, which held Il place Of
greater or less security upon her lap. a
better contrivance for tete-a-tete was
never devised
PART II.
| Mr.. Benjamin Guile had managed to
secure a seat by the side of Miss Rebecca
Sabina Hall, and was pairing with great