The Professor took one of the pans and Robert Wood the other.

“The ladies wall please form in line,” cried the Professor; which was done.  “Now will each lady,” said the Professor, “as she marches between us, throw one wrister in one pan and t’other wrister in the other pan?  Give us a good, lively march, Abner,” he added, and the music began.

The procession passed between the upheld pans, one wrister of each pair thrown right and the other left, as it moved on.

The music stopped.  “Now, will the ladies please form in line again,” said the Professor, “and as they pass through each one take a wrister from the pan held by Mr. Wood.”

The music started up again and the procession moved forward and the work of selection was completed.

Again the music stopped.  “Now will the gentlemen form in line, and as they march forward each one take a wrister from the pan that I hold,” said the Professor.

Once more the music started up.  The line was formed, the procession advanced, ’Zekiel and Quincy bringing up the rear.  As Quincy took the last wrister from the pan that the Professor held, the latter turned quickly away and beat a tattoo on the bottom of the pan with his knuckles and cried out, “Gentlemen will please find their partners.  The wristers become the property of the gentlemen.”

Then a wild rush took place.  Screams of laughter were heard on every side, and it was fully five minutes before the excitement subsided, and in response to another tattoo upon the milk pan by the Professor, the couples, as arranged by the hand of Fate, formed in line and marched around the great kitchen to the music of a sprightly march written by the Professor and called “The Wrister March,” and respectfully dedicated to Miss Hulda Mason.  This announcement was made by Mr. Stiles from his elevated position upon the kitchen table.

The hand of Fate had acted somewhat strangely.  The Professor and Mandy Skinner stood side by side, as did ’Zekiel Pettengill and Mrs. Mason.  Lindy Putnam and Huldy by a queer twist of fortune were mated with Cobb’s twins.

But Fate did one good act.  By chance Quincy and Alice stood side by side.  She looked up at him and said to her partner, “What is your name, I cannot see your face?”

“My name is Quincy,” said Sawyer in a low voice.

“I am so glad!” said Alice, leaning a little more heavily on his arm.

“So am I,” responded Quincy ardently.

After the procession had made several circuits of the great kitchen, Professor Strout gave a signal, and it broke up, each gentleman being then at liberty to seek the lady of his own choice.

“What games shall we play fust?” asked Strout, taking the centre of the room, and looking round upon the company with a countenance full of smiles and good nature.

“Who is it?” “Who is it?” came from a dozen voices.

“All right,” cried Strout; “that’s a very easy game to play.  Now all you ladies git in a line and I’ll put this one chair right front of yer.  Now all the gentlemen must leave the room except one.  I suppose we can use the parlor, Mrs. Mason?”