At the
same time it seemed to him that the dance savored of barbarism, and he
recalled pictures and stories of Indian dances where the participants
fell to the ground too weak to rise.
"I put my right hand in," called out one of the fellows. Cries of "Oh,
yes, that's it!" came from the company, and they arranged themselves in
two rows, facing each other and running the length of the long room.
They were in couples, as they came to the party. Abner played the melody
on his violin, and the fellows and girls sang these words:
"I put my right hand in,
I put my right hand out,
I give my right hand a shake, shake, shake,
And I turn myself about."
As they sang the last line they did turn themselves about so many times
that it seemed a wonder to Quincy, who was an amused spectator, how they
kept upon their feet.
Seeing that one of the young ladies in the line was without a partner,
Quincy took his place beside her and joined in the merriment as heartily
as the rest. Then followed all the changes of "I put my left hand in,"
"I put my right foot in," "I put my left foot in," and so on until the
whole party was nearly as much exhausted as Hiram and Mandy had been.
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