“Some take the path with shoes in hand,
To traverse muddy bottom-land:
Aristocrats their steeds bestride—
Four on a mule, behold them ride.
And ten great oxen draw apace
The wagon from ‘de oder place,’
With forty guests, whose conversation
Betokens glad anticipation.”
Arrived at the scene of merriment the dance is preceded by a prayer by “Brudder Brown,” who takes the middle of the floor to “beg a blessin’ on dis dance.”
“O Mahsr! let dis gath’rin’ fin’ a blessin’ in yo’ sight!