"'Tis time to roll"—"my needle's broke—"
"So Martin's stock is selling;"-
"Louisa's wedding-gown's bespoke—"
"Lend me your scissors, Ellen."
"That match will never come about—"
"Now don't fly in a passion;"
"Hair-puffs, they say, are going out—"
"Yes, curls are all in fashion."
The quilt is done, the tea begun-
The beaux are all collecting;
The table's cleared, the music heard-
His partner each selecting.
The merry band in order stand,
The dance begins with vigor;
And rapid feet the measure beat,
And trip the mazy figure.
Unheeded fly the moments by,
Old Time himself seems dancing,
Till night's dull eye is op'd to spy
The steps of morn advancing.
Then closely stowed, to each abode,
The carriages go tilting;
And many a dream has for its theme
The pleasures of the Quilting.
Fitz-Greene Halleck
A FRAGMENT
His shop is a grocer's—a snug, genteel place,
Near the corner of Oak Street and Pearl;
He can dress, dance, and bow to the ladies with grace,
And ties his cravat with a curl.
He's asked to all parties—north, south, east and west,
That take place between Chatham and Cherry,
And when he's been absent full oft has the "best
Society" ceased to be merry.
And nothing has darkened a sky so serene,
Nor disordered his beauship's Elysium,
Till this season among our elite there has been
What is called by the clergy "a schism."
'Tis all about eating and drinking—one set
Gives sponge-cake, a few kisses or so,
And is cooled after dancing with classic sherbet
"Sublimed" [see Lord Byron] "with snow."
Another insists upon punch and perdrix,
Lobster salad, champagne, and, by way
Of a novelty only, those pearls of our sea,
Stewed oysters from Lynn-Haven Bay.