The gentlemen's families of Stockbridge had opened wide their
doors to these gallant and genial defenders, whose presence in their
households, far from being regarded as a burden, required by the
public necessity, was rather a social treat of rare and welcome
character; and, unless tradition deceives, more than one happy match
was the issue of the intimacies formed between the fair daughters of
Stockbridge and the knights who had come to their rescue.
Previous to the conflict at West Stockbridge and the news of the
battle at Springfield, the seriousness of the situation availed indeed
to put some check upon the spirits of the young people. But no sooner
had it become apparent that the suppression of the rebellion was not
likely to involve serious bloodshed than there was such a general
ebullition of fun and amusement as might be expected from the collection
of such a band of spirited youths. Not to speak of dances, teas, and
indoor entertainments, gay sleighing parties, out to the scene of
"battle" of West Stockbridge, as it was jokingly called, were of daily
occurrence, and every evening Mahkeenac's shining face was covered with
bands of merry skaters, and screaming, laughing sledge-loads of youths
and damsels went whizzing down Long Hill to the no small jeopardy of
their own lives and limbs, to say nothing of such luckless wayfarers
as might be in their path.
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