Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-05-27

ito engage III tic innocent Cotllllol. But Ills was
Ia pleasure in the anticipation destined not 10 have
IAN existence in reality. The real owner Of the
house getting rumor of what was going on, and
|havng some religious scruplcs upon the subject
iof dancing, came and respectfully asked them to
,,lesist. Where before might have been observed
10y and glalncss b, aiming from every countcnancc:
could now be seen nothing hut disappointment
;and detection.
The kind malronS Of the vicinity (eayen bless
5them) ever ready to contribute to the happiness
I of the young had prepared dinner for the occa-
Sion The place they selected for spreading their
( table was beautiful grass-carpetcd, pleasantly
ssllatlcd dngc situated between two hills. The
peaceful little stream gliding along its course, its
3silvcry bosom rejecting hack the rays of sun,
aand the low soft murmur of its waters as they were
gently prcciptatcd over the shoals above, together
awith the Shadowy willow-oaks overhead, covered
( lover with the ncw-grown foliage Of carly spring
Ehuttering in the soft and gentle breeze, and the
monotonous sound of the cow-bclls that ever and
/ anon was heard in the distance forming strange
! and pleasing contrast with the soft, mclodiollS
music of the violin,--I say all these combined
5conspred to give the whole scene an air of ro'
nance, and reminded me of the happy times that
Snovelests informs us, the peasants have upon the
! banks of the Rhone and Garronne.
4 About one o'clock dinner was announced ready
dand the party surrounded the table laden with
Ii, 1,1o n1n
3wth which the most fastidious and squemsh epi-
! cure in the land could have found 10 fault. The
sdinncr was truly dinner of dnncrs,-it did honor
Ito the occasion and credit to the good ladies that
furnished it. After each of us had paid the ell,
comium Of Satiated appetite, kind friend in,
vited the party to his house, at no great distance
Thither they went hoping to spend the after
noon in the innocence of the cotillion without i'll
! fringng upon ones religious scruples, and free
from further interruption. But like the Wadenscs
8of ancient times they seemed to have been born
afor persecution, for the second cotion had but
Aiust commenced when there came q messenger il
the person of an ebony faced daughter of Africa
8with orders from the old folks" to give ovcl
dancing. By skillful manGuvreing the facetious
: and frolicksome C-n managed to have, what he
awas pleased to call, another dispatch and the
adancers continued till there came another deputy
: to stop it. The party by this time had become
Ssick tired, and disgusted at such unexampled per-
secution, and they returned to the dinge, when tc
their great surprise they found several promising
8spccimcns of Young America engaged in game
Familiarity known as old slcdge, to the great amuse
mcnt of the sold folks" Thinks to myself
: " consistency is rare jewel"
4 cannot close this, already too long, communi,
cation, without calling the attention of parents tt
arcfcct, and think calmly and dispassionately how
aunnatural, unreasonable and wong it is, for thu
+ sake of whim, for which they can show no rca
ason to deny their children the graceful, hcatlful
Hand innocent amusement of the dance. Pray
S|what sin can there be in merely stepping to TIN
Sound of music? If it is inconsistent with NOR
aality and religion I cannot sec why. If it be il
aviolation of the teachings of the Holy Scriptures
. 1 have never seen where it is prohibited and III.
: Hess those who oppose it can show how, why, an'
\ wherein it is wrong, think it more the part o
: wisdom in them, and would be carrying out th
Esprit of Christianity more fully to seal up thci
amouths till thoy can give reason.
GAZAWAY.