“Thorsday, Oct. 6, 1687 ...  On my Unkle’s Horse after Diner, I carry my wife to see the Farm, where we eat Aples and drank Cider.  Shew’d her the Meeting-house....  In the Morn Oct. 7th Unkle and Goodm.  Brown come our way home accompanying of us.  Set out after nine, and got home before three.  Call’d no where by the way.  Going out, our Horse fell down at once upon the Neck, and both fain to scramble off, yet neither receiv’d any hurt...."[170]

Nearly a century later Judge Pynchon records a social life similar, though apparently much more liberal in its views of what might enter into legitimate entertainment: 

“Saturday, July 7, 1784.  Dine at Mr. Wickkham’s, with Mrs. Browne and her two daughters....  In the afternoon Mrs. Browne and I, the Captain, Blaney, and a number of gentlemen and ladies, ride, and some walk out, some to Malbon’s Garden, some to Redwood’s, several of us at both; are entertained very agreeably at each place; tea, coffee, cakes, syllabub, and English beer, etc., punch and wine.  We return at evening; hear a song of Mrs. Shaw’s, and are highly entertained; the ride, the road, the prospects, the gardens, the company, in short, everything was most agreeable, most entertaining—­was admirable."[171]

     “Thursday, October 25, 1787 ...  Mrs. Pynchon, Mrs. Orne, and
     Betsy spend the evening at Mrs. Anderson’s; musick and
     dancing."[172]

     “Monday, November 10, 1788 ...  Mrs. Gibbs, Curwen, Mrs. Paine,
     and others spend the evening here, also Mr. Gibbs, at
     cards."[173]

     “Friday, April 19 1782.  Some rain.  A concert at night; musicians
     from Boston, and dancing."[174]

     “June 24, Wednesday, 1778.  Went with Mrs. Orne [his daughter] to
     visit Mr. Sewall and lady at Manchester, and returned on
     Thursday."[175]

V.  Funerals as Recreations

Even toward the close of the eighteenth century, however, lecture days and fast days were still rather conscientiously observed, and such occasions were as much a part of New England social activities as were balls and receptions in Virginia.  Judge Pynchon makes frequent note of such religious meetings; as,—­“April 25, Thursday, 1782.  Fast Day.  Service at Church, A.M.; none, P.M."[176] “Thursday, July 20, 1780.  Fast Day; clear."[177] Funerals and weddings formed no small part of the social interests of the day, and indeed the former apparently called for much more display and formality than was ever the case in the South.  There seems to have been among the Puritans a certain grim pleasure in attending a burial service, and in the absence of balls, dancing, and card playing, the importance of the New England funeral in early social life can scarcely be overestimated.  During the time of Sewall the burial was an occasion for formal invitation cards; gifts of gloves, rings,