St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-02-08
Selected Story.
THE SPRIG'S BALL.


ton of the cotton district, stood a
rickety old blacksmith-shOp. The
master of its forge. Remington Ingle-
heart, tamIliarly known az Rem"
was stout, thick set man, OF slave
parentage. He was thrifty young
fellow, sure OF success at his trade
For some time he had been ''goin'
with a GAL" as he said, about half a
a mile up one of the little streams,
but had never come to any definite
understanding, because there had
been but one room to the shop. BY
the time OF which we write, how
ever, things were different. An
extra apartment was practically
completed The neighbOrs wonder
q ed what Rem was up to. When
asked about it, he simply answered
that he was tired "wOrk1n' an
sleepin IN the same place"
Among all the young negroes of
the vicinity, Rem" had but one
particular friend. This was Hicks
Gale. Hicks was a sort OF black
smith, too In rushes of work he
would come over and help Rem
One cold December night, Rem"
had a job on hand that must be
finished before he turned IN. How
he wished for Hicks AS if the wish
had ANYTHING to do with it, Hicks
actually appeared about nine o'clock.
E;"HullO, HIcksi" exclaimed Rem"
"Tus' de man / wants to see. Take
de sledge an strack little fur me-"
Dat amt presaCtly what l come
fur" said Hicks; but L kin hit you
few ticks ANYHOW"
whats on hand ?" asked Rem"
thrusting the iron back for a new
heat.
"A ball at St. Michael's Christ
mus eve" responded Hicks, in much
glee tSim Sprigs is givln' it, an he
tole me fur to tell you to be sure an
come, an fetch Judy. You'll be dar,
won't you ?"
"COaSe," answered Rem Ever
know me to miss a ball :"
St. Michael's was a church;
shabby looking structure on the east
bank of the large stream formed by
the two smaller ones. On the night
of the ball. it was pompOusly illumi
mated by number OF tallOw dips
that peeped uneasily forth from
every nook and corner. The dilapi-
dated wooden shutters had been
drawn to and fastened with pieces of
heavy Irvine, to keep out the dusty
blasts. In the center was a small
stove which was filled with pine
knots till it gave out the necessary
degree of heat. The crude benches, |
on either side of the common aisle, |
were gathered into a large heap be-
side the door, to make room for the |
pedal antics. The most striking |
feature was the old pulpit. 1t con-
sisted OF a low platform, shut in
across the front and half way back
on either side by a rough frame
work OF boards. Each projecting
corner looked toward a vendors
stand, laden with the influences
which make "A fool and his money"
soon part.
The form OF entertainment which
the negroes call a ball is rather a
comprehensive institution. 1t may
be given on the slightest prOvoca
ton, and under any auspices what
ever, public or private. Ostenslbly,
the enjoyment consists in dancing to
the music OF a scratchy fiddle. Real
ly, the interested parties bring to-
gether as many of their friends as
possible for the purpose OF dispOsing
to them of cheap nicknacks and
third-class refreshments at a profit
of three or four hundred per cent.
BY eight O'Clock on the Christmas
eve in question, st. Michael's was
full to OVERLOOKING. The din of loud
talking and yelling was deaiening.
The voice of Sim Sprigs, the man
he haor-j NJ hot e |
any one else, exhorting the young
bloOds to ''iurmember" their sweet
hearts, and treat 'um often" The
idea of treating was of primary i'm
pOrtance to the success of the enter
tainment. 1t meant that the boys
were to lavish their last cent on the
girls. In fact, the prompting in the
dance was equipped with special
figure for such occasions, PRO
ade to &c bar" The cry of treat
me- could everywhere be heard in
powerful soprano tones. II girl
met boy she knew she invariably
asked him to treat her. When a
boy asked a girl to dance, she
usually answered, 'Yup, uf you'll
treat me fust," frequently stlpulat-
ing the amount of the investment.
Rem" and Judy arrived little
late The first dance was already III
progress. Every one naturally
glanced up to see who had entered
The newcomers shook off their
slight embarrassment by at once
joining in the waltz. Very soon they
were as much part OF the crowd as
any other couple in the house.
AS soon as the opening set closed,
there was a general thronglng to
de bar" Rem" made his pur-
chases and retired. With a large
bag in one hand, and Judy on the
other arm. he sought the seclusion OF
I he old rI,lnit The inclnsure WAS