Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-05-27

A u,
at length came round. Towards
sunset OF an evening, mild In tenn.
perature and resplendent with the
glorious golden-tipped clouds Of the
October sky. the air fraught with
that joyful freshness which distin-
guishes this season In Maryland,
groups Of gay-clad persons were
seen passing on the high road that
led from the town TO the Rose Croft.
The greater number, according &c
the usage OF that day, rode on horse
back. the women seated on billions
behind their male escort. Some OF
the younger men trudged on foot.
and amongst these was even seen.
here and there. . buxom damsel
cheerily making her way In this
primitive mode OF travel, and show
Ing by her merry laugh and elastic
step how little she felt the incouysn
ience OF her walk.
It must not be suppose d frem this
account that the luxury OF the coach
was altogether unknown TO the good
people OF the province. Two OF
these vehicles were already within
the dominions OF the Lord Proprie-
tary; one belonging to his Lordshiu
himself, and the other 10 Master
Thomas Motley, of Motley Hall, mem.
Der OF the council. and sometime.
during the Proprietary's late visit
10 London, the Lieutenant General
Of the province. They were both of
the same fashion. stiff, numbering.
square old machines which had been
imported some twenty years past.
and were often paraded in the street
OF st. Mary's with their bedizened
postillions and footmen, to the no
inconsiderable enhacement, in the
eyes Of the burghers, OF the dignity
and state OF their possessors. The
bountiful foresight and supreme
authority, IL may be said, OF the
Lady Maria had procured the aid of
both OF these accommodations for
the service Of the evening, and thew
were, accordingly. now plying back
ward and forward between the port
and the Collectors, for the especial
ease and delectation OF sundry wor.
shipful matrons whose infirmities
rather inclined them TO avoid the
saddle. and also for the qualification
Of such favorites OF the good lady.
amongst the youager members of
the population. as she vouchsafed
TO honor by this token of her re-
gard. By the help of these conven-
fences q considerable number of
guests had been set down, at the
scene OF festivity. o full hour before
sunset-this early con invocation being
ia conformity with the social usages
by which nEr ancestors were accus-
toned, on occasions OF iollity, to take
time by the forelock.
The fame Of the preparations at
the Rose Croft had attracted, In ad-
dition to the invited guests, all such
mere idlers as the humber ranks of
the towuspeOple supplied. These
were chiefly congregated about the
principal gateway, drawn thither
by their desire 10 witness the COM
ing OF the visitors and to feast their
eyes with the display of holiday
finery, which furnishes so large a
fund OF interest to persons OF this
class. The crowd was composed of
serving men and maids, idle appren-
tices and vagrant strollers, OF both
sexes, with due admixture OF rag.
ged, bare-legged boys, who drove a
business OF some little gain, by tax
ing charge OF the horse OF such as
dismounted at the verge of the en-
closure that surrounded the dwell
ing. Willy OF the Flats, ordinarily
but q comrade OF these groups, was
now elevated into a character OF
some importance on q theatre of
higher honor, and having become q
parsonage, in their estimation, of no
mean mark, did not fail to let his
consequence be seen and felt by his
old compeers. His rough shoes
were CREASED to give them q more
comely exterior, his linen, new
washed, was ambitiously displayed
upon his breast, and his dilapidat-
cd garments, put in the best condi-
ton their weather. stricken service
would allow, ostentatiously freshed
up with knots of party colored rib
bons, which, especially upon his ve-
teran beaver. fared in streamers.
and audibly fluttered in the zephyr
that played across his brow. His
fiddle, which was soon to be called
into active employment, was as yet
suspended TO the kitchen wall in its
green bag, and he strutted. in va
cant leisure. across the lawn in the
presence OF his envying cronies al
the gateway. with q vain glorious
and self-gratulating step, that show
ed. at least, how complacently be
viewed his own exaltation. even II
he did not win as much worship
from the spectators.
Michael Mossbank," he said
with significant twinkle OF the eve;
we will make dainty work OF ID TO-
night junketing shall be spok.
en- OF on both sides OF the bay this
many o long year. The quality
themselves do not often see the like,
and the simple folks that haye had
the luck to be let in, will not forget
it, or / am mistaken, till the young
down turns into old bristles. II is
like 70 be o most capersome and !
may say melodious merry making.
You had no light hand. Michael. In
the ordering OF it.
You may make Bible oath TO
that, replied the gardener; ''and
you would never be forsworn. Or.
der it. | did.-the outdoor work
the kitchen work, and the hall work.
Here was the trimming of hedges to
make all smooth at the bank side,
and the setting out Of the lawn-no,
. struggling leaf shall you see upon
it; then the herbs for the kitchen,
and the flowers for the halli Faith
10 was Q handful Of work for a week
past. II IL had not been for Mich