Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

1828-1830.] AN INSIGHT OF VILLAGE LIFE.

91

annuated horses, plied to and fro, carrying many a merry party, duly supplied with the implements of the angler's craft.
Feasts and dances followed on their landing. In the autumn,
when the salmon-trout came out of the lake, it was a pretty
sight to see the river below us filled with boats, each having
a blazing pine-knot in the bow, by the light of which men
speared the fish as they rose toward the flame.
I have before me an amusing letter, written by my mother
to a young girl who had been near them at boarding-school;
it gives a pleasant insight into their village life:
"idMY DEAR C.,-I received your last letter the other evening, just as I
was preparing to pour out tea for a party of old married ladies: sociable
visits are all the rage nowadays, and I have been going the rounds of
the village in this mode of entertainment. There has not been a party
since you left here, so you have nothing to regret on that score. You
have heard, no doubt, of the 'awakening' in our Presbyterian Church,
and would be amazed to see the alterations occasioned by it in some of
your friends. A smile has not visited the countenances of Rachel
or Mary- for many a long day, and they both look as pale and emaciated as if they were 'without hope,' instead of having experienced it.
Maria -, Helen --, and the two -'s, are also among the ' changed.'
Mr. Tiffany has profited by the example of his neighbor church, and
made very great exertions toward the advancement of his own. He has
service in the church every Wednesday evening, besides three classes for
religious instruction, which he attends to weekly; the married ladies,
the young ladies, and about eighteen gentlemen, young and old; so that
I think even you would not have been in very great danger of total ruin
this winter. There is a prayer-meeting every evening at Mr. 's, and
often before sunrise young and old are seen wending their way toward
the house of prayer. Mr. and Mrs. -- and Miss --, all members of
the meeting, have left it, and become, I hope, good Episcopalians. Mrs.
- and Mrs. - do not visit, and scarcely speak when they meet;
mutual intolerance seems to be the cause of the trouble between them.
Of your beaus I know nothing, excepting that they are alive and well;
Mr. - is still in Mr. 's office; and every Sunday I hear the notes
of Mr. 's flute mingling with the choir. Old Mr.- peeps abroad
now and then, and has found his way to Apple Hill just once since you
left us. The children are well, and unite with me in love to you, your
mother, and sisters."