The Mornin'-Glory Girl

								

mortified lady. The jeers of the youths on the benches added to her
discomforture. Nell began to wonder whether her mind and constitution
were robust enough to allow her to engage in such festivities as these
very often.
Now the dance was a two-step and Mrs. Wopp, who drew a hard and fast
line at round dances, declaring they were instigated by the evil one,
sat and looked on talking to Betty meanwhile.
“I hope when you are growed up, my dear, you will never dance them
waltzes an’ two-steps. The good Lord carnt love them as does sich
things.”
Betty who secretly preferred to trip the light fantastic toe in this
manner, maintained a discreet silence.
Mrs. Wopp leaning towards a lady on her right inquired, “Do you know
Mis’ Stephens, why Joe Avery is not dancin’ this evenin’. Ever sence
we come into this here barn he has never moved from his seat.”
“I kin tell you, Mrs. Wopp. He met with an accident comin’ over. He
was gittin’ through Abe Bower’s wire fence to save goin’ round by the
gate when Ben Bower’s bull-dog ‘Jeff’ caught sight of him. Next minute
Joe seen the bull-dog comin’ an’ started back through the fence. Land
sakes! The tear he got in the seat of his pants was somethin’
shockin’.”
“Pore Joe! Truly the way of the transgressor is hard. I feel bad fer
him, to think he has to set round all evenin’ and carnt even git up to
git a drink of water fer hisself.”
“I wouldn’t jist say he cant git up, Mrs. Wopp, fer Mrs. Bower sewed
the tear up fer him; but the pants bein’ still on him and Joe bein’
shy-like she felt too narvous to make a good job of it an’ I reckon
Joe is afeard those few stitches Mrs. Bower put in may not be very
secoor.”
Mr. Wopp in the meantime had seated himself on the other side of Betty
and was busy taking notes on the dance then in progress. “It was so
interestin” he said, “and the poetry might come in handy.” The dance
was called “Captain Jinks.”



    “Captain Jinks of the horse marine,

    He feeds his horse on corn and beans.
“Swing with Captain Jinks, swing with the horse that ate the beans,
swing with the girl with the great big feet.”
Though these and similar remarks seemed rather personal no resentment
was felt by anybody.
As the evening wore on Mrs. Wopp, Mrs. Stephens and a few other ladies
adjourned to a box stall where the refreshments were stored. Pleased
with the prospect of dispensing lavish hospitality from the combined
larders of the neighborhood, Mrs. Wopp’s face radiated cheerfulness.
A small stove had been set up in the improvised kitchen, and a big
boiler filled with water. This was now boiling furiously and the
ladies proceeded to make the coffee. Cakes and pies were cut, cups and
saucers were piled in one huge basket and sandwiches in another.
“Now Mis’ Stephens, call the boys,” requested Mrs. Wopp who was the
busiest of the group.
Armed with the big baskets, several young men of the party travelled