The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-21

tOO SoOu loE yOu. NoH lie Hoot VI tuo
house, like many others of that section,
was made of puncheons, split out from
the forest trees and laid on chestnut or
wild locust sleepers, and consequently
quite springy. Chairs in Rsbun county
then we're not as plentiful as they how
are in Atlanta, and it was not an unpop.
ular custom for two of the young peo-
pie to sit on the same chair together and
in dance, frequently couple would oc.
cupy the floor, especially in break
down.
I had been challenged by the belle of
the valley to single combat and l knew I
was in for it, but had fully determined to
be on hand when she got through. I
led Miss Mary D. few turns up and
down the hall, stopped in the center
where We made our bows, forwarded and
back, swung corners and circled all,
crossed over and back, then the fun com-
menced. Imade pass and she croquet-
ted, cornered and she chased, shut.
fled and she sidewized, pigeon-winged
and she wire toed, I double shuffled and
she gave the toe whiz, I gave jim crow
lick and she kill krankled, l struck a
break down and she hit the hurricane, I
went into q jig and she jiggareed, and for
ever lesd I'd make she would call me
and 60 one better now and then we'd
change sides and cross back into another
breakdown, and it was 60 it Miss Mary,
hurry Californy, and Jack Bradley
seemed to have got the inspiration on
"Rye Straw" Major Gibson beat the
fiddle strings with straws, one fellow
beat triangle, several were patting and
every gal was keeping time on the floor
with her feet, and the heads all around
the room were bobbipg up and down
with the spring of the elastic floor. Now
aud then some chap would sing out, "go
it frolic, yer dady's rich aud no poor kim"
''hurry Miss Mary, come down to it Cali.
forny," and ne were both doing our
very level best. Miss Mary vas pic.
ture-,o say she looked thing of life
would be but feeble and emaciated ex.
preston. I can still sec her after the
lapse of time in the midst of one of those
dead setto's her 1.-the and wilowy form
swaying from side TO side in the culver
of action, athletic and graceful in her
every motion, head and shoulders little
inclined to the front, the folds of her
blue checked home spun frock grssped
in her hands on either side, little raised
to clear her shapely ankles, her skirts
srtistically spread out and in, to per-
feet harmony of motion, and her dainty
feet would strike that puncheon floor
with the quick beat of knitting ma
chine, and she skinned the floor as
a full.rigged brig, as she cuts the great
deep, rocking from side to side before
a spanking breeze (talk about your Ger
of this advanced day and of the enjoy
ment of your young folks, all tame to
tbst). And I WAS right about there,
too, head and shoulders thrown back to
the breakdown, a little to the front in
pigeon wing, arms flying to help the
feet keep time with the music, the wealth
or was getting equatorial, the perspirs-
tion streaming, and we we're just getting
down properly to our knitting in what
is called the cyclone movement, when
the music suddenly ceased. Jack Brad.
ley had sawed his treble string clean in
two and it was draw between me and
the belle of Tennessee Valley. We re-
tired to a chair amid the plaudits of the
crowd, were pretty well blowed and a
little fatigued, but found delightful
repose for my arms, and my partner rest
ed one OF hers on her lap and the other
round my shoulder. Miss Mary felt a
little warm but not all agreeably 30; our
temperatures ranged about the same de-
gree farenheit. The caloric gradually
cooled down 10 its normal state and we
spspt several very agreeable moments to-
gethes watching the other couples as they
would take turn.
We assced all night till broad daylight
and went home with the girls in the
morning, and as We passed the store
treated the girls to torter she'll side combs
and sacrament vine.
The Miss Mary D., of the valley is
still there, but now q silver.haired 4at.
ron and faithful mother of Q crowd OF
excellent children. My locks too have
changed to frosty hue, though now and
then I still saw on my old fiddle and
and never strike old "Rye Straw" but
think Of Miss Mary and the Rsbun coun.
| o., froI;o opd uhon oopnara the oood