Old Ralph, scenting the good cheer from afar, came down from his cabin on the hill with several other darkies, and their hearts were all made glad with a “dram.” Tired and sleepy, about two o’clock I retired. The last thing I remember seeing as I dozed off was R—— (who I think staid up all night), seated on a camp-stool, explaining to the darkies how earthquakes were caused by a certain unmentionable gentleman who resides below, moving his furniture about with other scientific facts and theories of a like kind. In the meantime his audience sat on the ground, presenting a circle of black faces on which the firelight shone, revealing open mouths and eyes as large as saucers, all of which made a tout ensemble that was ludicrous in the extreme.
Next morning the weather was cloudy, and as it began to rain about eleven o’clock, we procured a wagon, packed up our equipment, and reluctantly abandoned our camp for the realms of civilization.
THREE DAYS’ GRACE.
THE tiny slipper she had dropped
He lifted from the brookside dust,
And placed it on the dainty foot
That had so lightly held its trust.
“Ah! Cinderella,”—but she waived
His homage of the eye and knee;
Half mockingly, half tenderly—