Polly, who had become quite a proficient little dancer under her sister’s teaching, was very willing to do her share in the evening’s entertainment, and it was pronounced a decided success.

Mary then said, “I’ll play my favorite schottische, composed by our old friend, the Professor.  I have not yet procured a copy of his latest piece of music, ‘The Passing of the Dahlias.’  I think it is still with the publishers.”

Mary, after playing “Rock of Ages,” left the room to see about serving refreshments, when Elizabeth Schmidt took her place at the instrument.  After playing “The Rosary,” she turned to Ralph, who had been greatly amused by the German songs on the program, all of which were quite new to him, and said:  “What shall I play for you?”

He replied, “’My Little Irish Rose’—­no, I mean ‘The River Shannon.’”

“Don’t you mean ‘That Grand Old Name Called Mary?’” mischievously inquired Fritz Schmidt, who could not refrain from teasing Ralph, which caused a laugh at his expense, as all present were aware of his love for Mary.  Elizabeth, to cover Ralph’s confusion, quickly replied:  “I’ll play my favorite, ‘The End of a Perfect Day.’”

The party was pronounced a success, and broke up at a late hour for country folks.  Before leaving, Mary’s Uncle said:  “Now, let’s sing ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ and then all join in singing that grand old hymn, ’My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,’ to the new tune by our friend, the Bucks County Editor.”

[Illustration:  PALASADES or Narrows of Nockamixon]

CHAPTER XVIII.

A visit to the “Pennsylvania Palisades,” As the “Narrows” Of the Delaware river are called.

All hailed with delight Aunt Sarah’s proposal that the Schmidt and Landis families, on the Fourth of July, drive over to the Narrows, visit Aunt Sarah’s old home at Nockamixon, and see the “Ringing Rocks” and “High Falls,” situated a short distance from the rocks, near which place picnics were frequently held.  John Landis readily agreed to the proposed plan, saying, “The meadow hay and clover are cut, and I’ll not cut the wheat until the fifth day of July.”

The third of July was a busy day at both farm houses, preparing savory food of every description with which to fill hampers for the next day’s outing.  Small Polly Schmidt was so perfectly happy, at the thought of a proposed picnic, she could scarcely contain herself, and as her sister Elizabeth said, “did nothing but get in every one’s way.”  Little Polly, being easily offended, trudged over to the Landis farm to see Mary, with whom she knew she was a great favorite.

The morning of the Fourth dawned bright and clear.  Quite early, while the earth was still enveloped in a silvery mist, and on the lattice work of filmy cobwebs, spun over weeds and grass, dewdrops, like tiny diamonds, sparkled and glistened, until dissolved by the sun’s warm rays, the gay party left home, for the “Palisades” were quite a distance from the farm, to drive being the only way of reaching the place, unless one boarded the gasoline motorcar, called the “Cornfield Express” by farmers living in the vicinity of Schuggenhaus Township.