38

Saturday, 1862
another in a circle & occasionally bend-
int the knees in a kind of curtsy. They
began slowly a few going around & more
gradually joining in, the song getting
faster & faster till at last only the most-
marked part of the refrain is sung & the
shuffling stamping & clapping gets furious.
The floor shook so that it seemed danger-
ous. It swayed regularly to the time of
the song. As they danced they of course
got out of breath, the singing was
principally kept up by the three apart
but it was astonishing how long they
kep up and had soon after a rest.
they were ready to begin again. They
kept it up till very late. Miss Walk-
er and I, Mrs. Whiting & her husban
were there, a little white crowd at
the door looking at such a wild
fire-light scene, for they had no other
light but that from the fire, which
tthey kep re-plenishing.