The New Hampshire Gazette

FOR THE
Gazette.

A true story of the Ball, holden at Gilmanton, on the 22d day of February 1804, by one of the company, and a friend to "the cause of truth."

MISTER PRINTERS.

THIS comes to let you know that I am well, and hope these few lines will find you the same. We have had a passion storm time our, up here in the country, for this three weeks past: tho we had three dreadful pretty days, the 20th, 21st, and 22d of Feb'y: but all along since that time, you can't think how it has snowed and blowed, and hailed, and stormed. The snow was so drifted, and so hard and so deep, there was no getting any where at all. Our minister had not one single soul living to hear him preach, for two Sundays running, which is what our old folks says, has never come to pass once he was settled in the gospel ministry before. For my part, and I don't mind a trifle or two, or so, neither; I couldn't get out to see the neighbors at all: tho I did venture out once or two, to go a courting, to see my sweetheart Betty Bundle, who lives about two miles from our folks, but I got stuck in the snow drift, and had a tarnation deal of trouble on it to get back again to father's.

The first time I have been out since those nine pretty days I told you of, was to day, when I went to see if the news had come up, for we have been in ignorance and darkness here a long time, but I couldn't find the hide nor the hair of a newspaper, no where at all: and our folks said, as how that our folks had laid a embargo on them; and so, I was coming home all in the doldrums about it, when I chanced to find a deputy funny piece of news, out of the Oracle store shop, at Portsmouth, in a kind of a hand bill, on a bit of paper, for all the world just like a proclamation paper for a public fast or thanksgiving. The first part of the news, in the proclamation paper, was an account of a grand Dinner, Ball and Supper at Gilmanton. And I couldn't help grinning at it, all the time I was reading it, for thinks I, as how, this is all a fun joke on our Ball; and to go for to make an imitation of the great doings, which I see had been carried on in some Paris: but when I had got thru with it, toasts and all, and read a piece at the bottom, subscribed by Squire Moody, and Squire Ham, saying there was nothing in it, at all; why then, to be sure, I knew, for certain, twas only a joke about our Ball.

And mister Printers, I likes a joke myself too, very well sometimes. I likes joking it with my brothers and sisters, my uncles and aunts, my cousins and friends: and I likes joking it with my sweetheart, Betty Bundle; but far's, we must not carry the joke too fur, if we do, and it cuts too deep, why then, it turns all the pleasure into pain, as a body may say.

Now, mister Printers, I am coming rite along down flat upon the bios, which makes me rite these loving lines to you-the business is as straight forward as a pitchfork handel, for you know, I told you just above here, that we had not seed the news for a long time, only the proclamation paper, which I got to day, and therefore, we dont know how many toris, and misrepresentations, may have gottin into the news about our Ball: for, there is, in that there proclamation paper, a long funny account of a grand Dinner, Ball, Toasts and Supper, which never happened to happen, in such magnanimous stile; and then, there is a serious contradiction to it, by two squires, who says there is nothing in it at all, and that it is a building without foundation. Now far's, my reason for writing these few lines is, (for I wish to "promote the cause of truth") to let you know all about our Ball, in my plain, simple farmer like way, and hope you will deign to print it in your news, that all the good people, who loves to "promote the cause of truth," may be enlightened in this dark business.

On Wednesday the 22d of Feb'y last, there was a Ball holden at Gilmanton, I am certain of it, becaus I went to it. And there was between thirty and forty pairs of men and women. And we had Mr. Silver there, the fiddler, from Meredith Bridge, and he sartinly plays the bettermost of any fiddler, that ever I heerd in all my born days; and the floor was all sanded up: and We danced there til one in the clock at night, and than we went home. There was a great many folks came to the Ball-and out off town folks too I why, there was Doctor P. and his Lady, came all the way from New Durham Ridge to it! and there was a grate deal of men and gals from Sanbornton, there. And all the people almost in Gilmanton, ware axed to go. But mister Printers, as I wish to "promote the cause of truth," there sartinly was not one single soul of those persons at the Ball. which the funny account of the grand celebration says there ware; except one of the Squires, (and his Lady) who subscribed the proclamation piece: and he, and his lady, I know ware there, for I seed them with my bodily eyes: and they, and we, and all of us, danced "Betty Martin" together, as hard as we co'd shufl in down.

I dont know, mister Printers, that the Ball was giving in celebration of Louis Hannah, all that I know is, that I had a notification to go to the Ball, circumscribed by two of the managers I wone, by the name of Mr. Elkanah Smith, a saddler, lately set up his trade in this town: the other, by the name of Mr. N. Eastman, a clerk in Squire M's. office. The following is a coppy of the notification sent to I:

"The company of - and partner, is requested at a Ball at the Hall of Capt. E. Eastman in Gilmanton, on Wednesday the 22d. of Feb'y inst. at 5 o'clock P. M.
(Signed,)
N. EASTMAN,
E. SMITH."
Gilmanton, Feb. 17, 1804.

Now, mister Printers, I have given you a true account of our Ball, which happened in Gilmanton, and which the good people, up and down country, have made such a funny fus about. And I did it becaus, as how, I loves to "promote the cause of truth"; all which I am reddy to take my bodily oath of, before any Justice of the Peace, in the whole varal world.

I remane your loving frend and servant to command.
A frend to "the cause of truth."
Gilmanton, March 17, 1804.

N. B. I dont know, mister Printers, as my sweetheart Betty Bundle has just given me the bag, as we says here in the country, if I cant get another, to top up the crack, her by has maid, in my brane, but what I may send you a cracked brained poetical notification,

How the bigg Gemmens one all,
From his Axelire, down to Corporall
Run mad frightend as the Dogs,
Like Windhamites, at us poor Frogs.