The Washington times., 1901-12-22

ciety, there must be little tea, so the
fully piled In the crib. while plantation
melodies and corn songs resounded
| through the night air. The pot OF chit
tlins." and two or three anatomies OF
opossums or racoons were the bill of
fare. IL we add the hoe cake and the
corn juice"
After the eating the fiddler drew his
bow I'LL away toward morning when, after
dancing and playing. all went away to
their respective homes. or course, there
was Miss Sallie Hicks. the belle. who was
the innocent cause of an encounter or
two.
Aunt Marthu's Quilting Party.
Aunt Martha Wilson had a "Quiltin' ="
on Thursday. BY noon several frames at
her house were being rapidly handled by
the deft, ebony fingers. Aunt Martha's
qulltIngs had occurred so regularly every
year that her fame had gone abroad not
only for the fine quilts she made. but also
for the fine roast pork she served and the
''tater custards" piled so high on her
table.
Many came from the town and the o. j.
sion was Il great social event to the ,coun-
try bucks" As a buggy would drive up
with ''yaller gal' and she alighted in
all her city finery many Sleeps eyes were
cast at her and she was the recipient Of
every attention.
While the women quilted the men we're
made servants TO bring water. attend to
the fires, and errlnds. Aunt Martha did
not believe in dancing so she cleared the
way for the plays. a plate was turned
in the middle of the floor and the one who
caught II was entitled to kiss from the
lady OF his choice. Then this gave way
to other plays, nearly all OF which were
founded on the basis OF a kiss.
When the osculatory appetite was suf-
ficiently quenched the quilting was over
and the guests departed. promising to re-
turn to the next quilting.
Festival mt Frogtown Church.
But whatever else there may have hap
pened during the week the greatest event
was always the festival at FrOgtown BaP-
tist Church. People came from far and
near. especially from the town. as the fes-
tiyal enabled them to show OF to great
advantage. The festival began with a
crude cantata or simple programme, got
ten up under the auspices OF the Sunday
scool.
After the programme was over the
front end of the church was arranged as
an eating bazaar with fried fish, chicken,
rabbit. boiled ham. roasted 'possum,
"tater custards," etc, etc. The seats
from the rear were taken out and piled
outdoors and then a small table with a
large cake from the best cook IN the set
tlement was placed upon It. Inside this
cake 1t was solemnly announced was
gold ring which ring was composed OF
about $50 parts brass and one part alloy.
The leader, who was no other than our
parson, then announced aloud:
Ready for the Grand March
"Gem'men and ladies', we is now ready
fur de gran march of ladies' an der
pardners fur dis hah cake To whutsum-
cbber lady an huh pardner shall be de-
ciahed de bes' marcher We gibs dis cake
VIII its preshus jew'l inside. Mission TO
de march. ten cents a couple"
When the glistening coin is all in and
the music starts up there commences the
only original and genuine cakewalk that
ever happened. The country boys kept
their eyes on the city fellows and any
shines cut by them are Immediately imi-
tated by the followers OF the plow and the
cotton row.
The marching was n monotonous tramp
ing round and round in u circle, but the
seriousness OF those country boys with
their awkward gaits and the puffed-up
strides OF the town chaps was worth in
solid fun to an outsider a dozen of the
so-called cakewaiks OF the variety comic
opera. THOMAS J. GALLOWAY.