White Sulphur papers; or, Life at the springs of Western Virginia

JOURNAL OF A LADY. 81
heard nor our offerings received. We instantly
sent down our maid to rescue them from observation
and could but laugh at the failure of a scheme, the
supposed success of which had given us so much
satisfaction the night before.
Saturday, .
About six o'clock this evening, a gay party of us
were on our way to Briar-field, the residence of Mrs.
B , about two miles from the springs, in the
direction of Lewisburg, where we were invited
spend the evening, or as they say here, to a teadrinking.
In our rides to L , the house which
stands back from the road had frequently been pointed
out, ^vhen seen in glimpses
to
through the trees, as
the dwelling of one of the most amiable of ladies,
and one who was exceedingly fond of the society of
young people, and always taking pleasure in contributing
all in her power, in any way, to their happiness
or amusement.
Upon our arrival, we found quite a sociable
number had preceded us, and we were very cordially
received by the kind hostess. Tea was handed, and
the waiters were filled with such a profusion ofgood
things, and creams, and warm pound-cake, that we
forgot, for awhile, in our delight, that we were more
tlian three hundred miles from home in the moun-