At last the "jestice" of the peace came, and I hope they live happy
ever afterward. That night a dance was given to celebrate the event
and we began to have dinner immediately after the wedding so as to get
through in time to start, for dances are never given in the home here,
but in "the hall." Every settlement has one and the invitations are
merely written announcements posted everywhere. We have what Sedalia
calls "homogenous" crowds. I wouldn't attempt to say what she means,
but as everybody goes no doubt she is right.

Our dinner was a success, but that is not to be wondered at. Every
woman for miles around contributed. Of course we had to borrow dishes,
but we couldn't think of seating every one; so we set one table for
twenty-four and had three other long tables, on one of which we placed
all the meats, pickles, and sauces, on another the vegetables, soup,
and coffee, and on the third the pie, cakes, ice-cream, and other
desserts. We had two big, long shelves, one above the other, on which
were the dishes. The people helped themselves to dishes and neighbors
took turns at serving from the tables, so people got what they wanted
and hunted themselves a place to sit while they ate. Two of the cowboys
from this ranch waited upon the table at which were the wedding party
and some of their friends. Boys from other ranches helped serve and
carried coffee, cake, and ice-cream. The tablecloths were tolerably
good linen and we had ironed them wet so they looked nice. We had white
lace-paper on the shelves and we used drawn-work paper napkins. As I
said, we borrowed dishes, or, that is, every woman who called herself
our neighbor brought whatever she thought we would need. So after every
one had eaten I suggested that they sort out their dishes and wash
them, and in that way I was saved all that work. We had everything done
and were off to the dance by five o'clock. We went in sleds and