A merry company they were , and it was a comfortable sight to see the tired fathers lying in the shade , while the housewives forgot their cares for a day , the young folks made table-setting and dishwashing a joke by doing it together , and the children frolicked to their hearts ' content . Even the babies were trundled to the party by proud mammas and took naps in their carriages , or held receptions for admiring friends and neighbors with infantile dignity . A social , sensible time , and when sunset came all turned homeward to make ready for the evening festivities . It was vaguely rumored that the pretty rustic bridge was to be illuminated , for the older people had taken up the idea and had their surprises ready as well as the young folks . A band was stationed by the river-side , a pretty villa on the hill blazed out with lines of light , and elms and apple-trees bore red and golden lanterns , like glorified fruit . The clerk of the weather was evidently interested in this novel entertainment , for the evening was windless , dark , and cool , so the arch of light that spanned the shadowy river shone splendidly . Fireworks soared up from the hill-top beyond , fireflies lent their dancing sparks to illuminate the meadows , and the three bridges were laden with the crowds , who greeted each new surprise with cries of admiration . Higher up the stream , where two branches met about a rocky island , elves seemed gathering for a summer revel . From all the landings that lined either shore brilliant boats glided to the rendezvous ; some hung with luminous globes of blue and silver , some with lanterns fiery-red , flower-shaped , golden , green , or variegated , as if a rainbow were festooned about the viewless masts . Up and down they flashed , stealing out from dusky nooks and floating in their own radiance , as they went to join the procession that wound about the island like a splendid sea-serpent uncoiling itself from sleep and darkness . `` Is n't it beautiful ? '' cried even the soberest of the townsfolk , as all turned their backs on the shining bridge and bursting rockets to admire the new spectacle , which was finer than its most enthusiastic advocate expected . All felt proud of their success as they looked , and even the children forgot to shout while watching the pretty pageant that presently came floating by , with music , light , and half-seen figures so charming , grotesque , or romantic that the illusion was complete . First , a boat so covered with green boughs and twinkling yellow sparks that it looked like a floating island by starlight or a cage of singing-birds , for music came from within and fresh voices , led by Annie , sang sweetly as it sailed along . Then a gondola of lovely Venetian ladies , rowed by the handsome artist , who was the pride of the town . Next a canoe holding three dusky Indians , complete in war-paint , wampum , and tomahawks , paddled before the brilliant barge in which Cleopatra sat among red cushions , fanned by two pretty maids . Julia 's black eyes sparkled as she glanced about her , feeling very queen-like with a golden crown on her head , all the jewelry she could muster on her neck and arms , and grandmother 's yellow brocade shining in the light . Belle and Grace waved their peacock fans like two comely little Egyptian damsels , and the many-colored lanterns made a pretty picture of the whole . A boatful of jolly little tars followed , with Tom Brown , Jr. , as skipper . Then a party of fairies in white , with silver wings and wands , and lanterns like moon and stars .
Lou Pope , as Lady of the Lake , XXXXX her own boat , with Jack for a droll little Harper , twanging his zitter for want of a better instrument .
bore dishwashing glided holding made rowed shining taken trundled variegated