gentleman had done. This mode of dancing had continued for some time, when one of the fair, who was occupying the floor, from fancy, curiosity, or politeness, danced up to an American and began clapping her hands in his face. Our countryman was evidently very much embarassed; he blushed, reddened, and at last, after several hems and hawks, stammered out, "No, savvy." Not at all discouraged at this failure, and resolved, as it seemed, on seeing an American dance, she turned and went waltzing up to our friend, who by the way, was not easily dashed, though not much of a dancer. "What could I do," said he afterward; "I could not dance in their style, I knew; and but very little in any other; if I took the floor, I might reasonably expect to fail, and so be laughed at, for an awkward American; if I refused, I should be ridiculed for my timidity and want of gallantry." "While thinking thus," said he, "the lady was all the while, with a most persuasive smile, bowing, clapping her hands, and urging her entreaties with all the English she was acquainted with. I turned my head, saw some of the company beginning to titter, and could bear it no longer." Here he made a desperate effort, gained the middle of the floor, and then went patting away to the further end of the room, imitating their mode of dancing as well as he could; then turning, he came down on a real, regular, backwoods hoe-down shuffle; wheeled into the middle of the floor, cut the pigeon wing, and brought up before a pretty brunette, who seemed about to go into a fit of hysterics from excessive laughter at the novel performance; clapped his hands four or five times in her face, and then went whirling away to his seat. "Go it countryman—huzzah countryman," cried we, joining in the general uproar. The Spaniards appeared to be much interested, and were quite pleased with this new way of dancing, and during
