Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume 2 (of 2): A full account of the colony and its inhabitants from the time of the Caribs to the present dayLanaghan, Mrs.
History
Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume 2 (of 2): A full account of the colony and its inhabitants from the time of the Caribs to the present day
Lanaghan, Mrs.
Antigua -- Description and travel; Antigua -- History
The “young men” of the class already noticed, appeared to have
been engaged the preceding forenoon in studying attitudes, for,
collected in groups, they stood leaning against the pillars,
distorting their forms and faces, and striving, I suppose, to
emulate the statues of the “Apollo Belvidere,” or the “Farnesian
Hercules.”
Everything in this world has its end, and consequently the time
at length arrived when the repast—to which all appeared to do
justice, and consumed such huge pyramids of cake as was
marvellous in my eyes—was over, and at a signal from one of the
preachers, they all knelt down to prayer; but while thus engaged,
I could hear the repressed jingle of many a silver spoon, which
some more careful dame was placing in security in her box or bag.
After the prayer, a few hymns were played and sung; during which
period, I took the opportunity of walking with my companion
around the space already mentioned, in order to obtain a full
view of the assembled guests; and then followed some speeches by
the missionaries and one or two of the leading members, which
afforded much interest to the assembled group.
One old gentleman—a very excellent man, by the way, but rather
too much given to prosing when in the pulpit—spoke in favour of
tea-meetings and of the chapel debt, (to pay off which, these
entertainments were given, as one means of raising money.)
Another preacher gave us a long rambling anecdote of a
bowie-knife; paid high compliments to the ladies, which were
received by a grin of applause; said how much better it was to
have these agreeable parties, and thus raise money, instead of
the old way of trudging about from house to house, begging the
inmates to put down their names for certain sums, and attributing
the happy change to the fertile genius of the “tender sex;” and
concluded by remarking, that in the course of a week or two there
would be a bazaar held at the court-house, for the purpose of
raising more cash to liquidate the chapel debt, at which he
understood there was to be a _solid lunch-table_ spread, besides
one for confectionary; and although he liked tea very well, he
liked lunch a great deal better.
After Mr. ——— had concluded, a mild, quiet-looking man rose, who
spoke of social intercourse, referred to Job’s sons and
daughters; talked of heaven and heavenly enjoyments; and then,
after a few more speeches, more compliments to the ladies, a few
more hymns, and a concluding prayer, came the cloaking, shawling,
and bonneting, and we returned home, altogether pleased with our
visit, and leaving the lady-givers of the repast packing away
their silver urns and tea-pots, and all their other “goods and
chattels,” with a clatter and clamour that would have awakened
the “seven sleepers.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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