[Footnote: One was "kept by two Irishmen named Daniel and Manasses Freil" (_sic_; the names look very much more German than Irish).] The traders brought their goods from Alexandria, Baltimore, or even Philadelphia, and made a handsome profit.

The lower taverns were scenes of drunken frolic, often ending in free fights.

There was no constable, and the sheriff, when called to quell a disturbance, summoned as a posse those of the bystanders whom he deemed friendly to the cause of law and order.

There were many strangers passing through; and the better class of these were welcome at the rambling log-houses of the neighboring backwoods gentry, who often themselves rode into the taverns to learn from the travellers what was happening in the great world beyond the mountains.

Court-day was a great occasion; all the neighborhood flocked in to gossip, lounge, race horses, and fight.