Read The Cruise of the Lively Bee; Or, A Boy's Adventures in the War of 1812 Page 27
CHAPTER XXV.
THE BALL AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The Capital had gathered there Her beauty and her chivalry; and bright The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men; A thousand hearts beat happily; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes look'd love to eyes which spake again, And all went merry as a marriage bell.
--BYRON.
December was within three days of its close, and the people ofWashington had chosen the night of the twenty-eighth for a grand balland reception to the naval officers, whose victories had made theirnames historic.
Specially was Captain Stewart of the _Constellation_ to be honored.
A brilliant company was gathered, and the White House never looked morelovely.
"Dolly" Madison was the mistress of the executive mansion, and we haveall heard our fathers say how beautiful she was, and how charming as anentertainer.
Captain Hull of the victorious _Constitution_ was present, and to addto the _eclat_ of the occasion the captured colors of the _Alert_ and_Guerriere_ were draped on the wall.
Then there was a representation of the _Constitution_, rudely drawn,'tis true, but it served the purpose.
Beneath it were the words:
"A bunch of pine boards, under a strip of striped bunting."
It wanted only a few minutes of midnight. The revelry was at itsheight.
A more brilliant scene could not be imagined.
The elegant toilets of the ladies, the gorgeous uniforms of therepresentatives of the army and navy, the bright court dresses of thediplomatic corps, looked dazzlingly beautiful beneath the light of athousand wax candles held by multitudinous sconces.
An old-fashioned minuet was being danced, when a murmur passed throughthe room.
How it originated no one could have told, but all seemed to know thatnews of another victory had been brought.
The Secretary of the Navy left the room, and in a few minutesre-entered, accompanied by two officers wearing lieutenants' uniforms.
Men clapped their hands, women waved their handkerchiefs, and the scenewas changed from one of terpsichorean pleasure to that of patrioticdelight.
Then one of the lieutenants handed a document to the Secretary of theNavy, who read it in silence.
His face wore an expression of pleasure as he finished, and turning tothe people he said in a voice husky with patriotic emotion:
"I have the proud privilege of introducing Lieutenant Hamilton ofthe good ship _United States_, who will tell you of an engagement onChristmas Day whereby the English lost their warship _Macedonian_,forty-nine guns."
If the cabinet officer had intended saying anything more, he was doomedto disappointment, for the people's cheers drowned all utterance.
When silence had been obtained, the secretary led another lieutenantforward.
"This, ladies and gentlemen, is Lieutenant Tempest, of the _LivelyBee_, privateer. He has to tell of the sinking of his Britannicmajesty's ship _Monarch_, and the capture of the armed merchantman, the_Caroline_."
Again the cheers resounded, and Tempest saw himself reflected in themirrors as the recipient of a glorious ovation.
But when it was known that the two heroes had brought with them thecolors of the captured vessels, the enthusiasm exceeded everythingimaginable.
Captains Hull and Stewart were commissioned by the President to bringin the captured trophies.
When they re-entered the hall, Captain Hull and Lieutenant Hamiltoncarried the flag taken from the _Macedonian_, while Captain Stewart andTempest performed the same act with the _Monarch's_ colors.
Amid the plaudits of the people the flags were laid before Mrs.Madison, who allowed the young officers to kiss her hand.
The order was given to proceed to the banquet hall, and the people weremoving that way when Dolly Madison, catching sight of two boys waitingoutside, asked who they were.
"Jack Creamer of the _United States_, and Bob of the _Lively Bee_. Itwas Bob, Mrs. Madison, who captured the colors of the _Monarch_----"
"Is that really true?"
The incident was told by Tempest, and when the guests had takentheir seats Mrs. Madison made room on her right hand for Bob, thepowder-monkey.
"The health of Commodore Decatur and the officers and crew of the_United States_," proposed the toastmaster, and our friend Bob, whothought the _Lively Bee_ should have taken precedence, added in a loudvoice: