Meantime the dance went bravely on, Black Betty circulated somewhat freely, and the mirth of the revelers grew more and more boisterous. Taking advantage of a slight cessation in the general hilarity, about nine o'clock in the evening, and while the fiddler with some of the party were engaged in partaking of refreshment, Seth Stokes, encouraged doubtless by the inspiration he had received from the whiskey, stepped boldly into the middle of the apartment with the bottle in his hand, and said: "Jest allow me, my jollies, to give a toast." "Harken all! A toast--a toast--from the long man o' the bony frame!" cried the voice of Sam Switcher. A laugh, and then silence followed. "Here's to--to Isaac and Peggy Younker--two beauties!" continued Seth. "May thar union be duly acknowledged by the rising generation o' old Kaintuck;" and the speaker gravely proceeded to drink. "Bravo! bravo!" cried a dozen voices, with a merry shout, accompanied with great clapping of bands; while Isaac, who was sitting by his new wife, arose, blushed, bowed rather awkwardly, and then sat down again. "Isaac! Isaac!--A toast from Isaac!" shouted a chorus of voices. Isaac at first looked very much confused--scratched his head and twisted around in a very fidgetty manner,--but presently his countenance flushed, and a smile of triumph crossing his sharp features, announced that he had been suddenly favored with an idea apropos. This was instantly perceived by some of the wags standing near, one of whom exclaimed: "I see it--it's coming!" "He's got it!" said a second. "I knew it--I'd ha' bet a bar-skin he'd fetch it," cried a third. "Out with it, Ike, afore you forget it," shouted the fourth. "Hold your jabbering tongues--!" cried Isaac, in vexation. "You're enough to bother a feller to death. I'd like to see some o' the rest on ye cramped up fur a toast, jest to see how _you'd_ feel with all on 'em hollering like." A hearty laugh at his expense was all the sympathy poor Isaac received. "Give us the bottle!" resumed Isaac. "Now here goes," continued he, rising and holding Black Betty by the neck. "Here's to the gals o' old Kaintuck--Heaven bless 'em! May they bloom like clover heads, be plentier nor bar-skins, and follow the example o' Peggy, every mother's daughter on 'em!--hooray!" And having drank, the speaker resumed his seat, amid roars of laughter and three rounds of applause. By the time this mirth had subsided, the fiddler struck up, and the dance again went on as before. Some two hours later the bridesmaid, with two or three others, managed to steal away the bride unobserved; and proceeding to a ladder at one end of the apartment, ascended to the chamber above, and saw her safely lodged in bed. In the course of another half hour the same number of gentlemen performed a like service for Isaac--such being customary at all weddings of that period.