witching of perfumed silks and satins, such a display of white arms and
white shoulders, as each bevy of beauties vaulted up the steps and were
bowed into the house by the polite Mr. Bowles. Bowles felt himself an
important element in the dignity of the family that night. His mistress
had got him a new blue coat with large brass buttons, and a white
waistcoat that reached nearly to his knees, and gave him the appearance
of a huge ball of snow surmounted by an illuminated globe painted black.
Bowles had delivered most of the invitations, and firmly believed that
his mistress was indebted to him for the success of her ball, inasmuch
as he had solicited guests worthy of her favor. Nor was he sure that the
ball was not given by his mistress to show him off in his new clothes.
Bowles had a bow and a smile for each of the guests. "My missus is right
glad to sees you--she is. Be a heap o' dancin' did to-night," he would
say, as he bowed the guests into the hall.

At ten o'clock the brilliantly-lighted parlors were filled, and
presented the appearance of a garden of flowers variously colored. There
were merry, laughing voices, graceful forms, young and happy faces,
forming the light and shade of the picture presented to the eye. The
ponderous figure of Mrs. Chapman formed a sort of central object. The
lady was indeed got up in a gorgeous style of dress, for she wore all
the colors of the rainbow, without their blending, had flounces nearly
to her waist, giving her the appearance of an half-inflated balloon; and
she had made a very flower-basket of her head. In short, the lady had
made a bold attempt to improve on all known styles of dress, and at the
same time to show her contempt for what other people might call taste in
such matters. Thus elaborately arrayed she fancied herself as much a
lady of quality as any of your fine old West Bowling Green people.

A number of exquisitely dressed young men had gathered about the lady,