The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-01-23

OHe iIOHl tildJ NniCu hOW piihBS ~ ptity
together. Before seven O'Clock the
rooms were filled. l cannot stop now to
describe, Though description is my
Jorte,) the beauty and splendor of the
scene. We have nothing in these days,
excepting the awkward imitation of n
fancy ball, that approaches the gloriQs of
the days of brecades and scarlet coats,
of gold lace and gold buttons, of dia-
mond buckles and steel-hilted rapiers
that looked like diamonds, of powder
and high-heeled shoes. Ah 7 those'were
times when you knew a gentleman by
his coat, and were not Obliged to cypher
him out by his conduct or his conversa-
ton
The company were received by Mr..
and Miss Clairmont, with all the cere-
mony of the old time. / have not in
troduced Mr.. Clairmont to the reader as
yet, simply for the want of time. AS
he made no objection to Ingram's pro-
posals when they were laid before him..
only declining to ratify the engagement
formally, until the consent of Sir Ralph
had been received, and as l therefore,
could make no use of him in the only
way fathers can be successfully managed
as cruel tyrants trampling on the young
affections of their daughters, have had
no occasion to mention him. He would
have been we'll worth your knowledge,
however, as favorable specimen of the
old pre-revolutionary New England
gentleman. But have no time left for
you to cultivate his acquaintance. The
fact Is, want three volumes TO make
use of my materials. Maga is very good
but, like Chanticleer in the fable, "she
is not enough.' All that was eminent in
rank or station, civil or military, all that
was brilliant in beauty and attractive in
manners, that the besieged town could
command, was gathered together on that
gay evening. Youth and dancing, old
age and cards, were in happy proximity.
And whatever there might be of loUe
about the former conjunction, there was
certainly nothing of it in the latter.
Mrs. Battle, herself, never despised play
ing cards for love more heartily than the
former generation of Boston dowagers.
Gaming was in those days almost as
much a necessity of life, as drinking.
AT the proper time, when supper was
announced, His Excellency led the pro-
cession, bearing aloft the fair hand of
his lovely hostess, and not tucking it
under his arm like walking-stick, or a
wet umbrella. The tables were loaded
with the choicest viands and the rarest
wines "and all went merry as mar
riage bell"
While these festive proceedings were
going on, in the next house Doctor Hol.
combe and Major Ferguson were willing
away the hours as best they might, in
such talk as the garrison and the mess
afforded. The punch tankard stood be.
tween them upon little table, and filled
up many pauses in their conversation
AS they lazily puffed out the smoke from
their mouths, they thought with salts.
faction of the wisdom of their choice
The distant hum of the party, and the
music, only enhanced the solitary salts.
faction. At length, a tap was heard al
the door, which opening, admitted the
sable form of poor Peter to whom we
introduced our reader in the second chap
ter. He entered the room with q ad0ggeC
and almost unconscious air of stupidity
bearing basket in either hand, from
one of which he produced come elegant
extracts from the great supper, and from
the other fresh fiagon of the most de
licious punch that they had ever dream
ed of, and, besides, two bottles of the
celebrated old Madeira, which had "pu
a girdle round the earthn in its travels
and knew more years than dare men
ton. 1t is hardly necessary to say, tina
as soon as Peter had disposed of thes,
edibles and potables upon the table anG
retired, the friends drew up to it anC
commenced an assault upon its content
which did infinite honor to their militia
ry education. The fiagon was jim con
slant requisition, and was pronounced
nectar worthy of the Hebe who had dis
pensed it. Then, after their supper wa
finished, they uncorked the wine, and
drawing up TO the fire, set in for seriou
drinking. They were seasoned vessels
but, / am sorry to say, that in due time
the liquor began to make inroads upol
their brains, and to set their tongues Il
perpetual motion. They told excellen
stories, only forgetting the point; bu
this, as they both talked at once, was G