He said that there would be much bad company there; that there would be drinking and carousing, and that David had been so good a boy that he should be very sorry to have him get a bad name.
The curiosity of the impetuous young man was, however, by this time, too much aroused for any persuasions to hold him back.

Shouldering his rifle, he hastened to the reaping at the appointed day.

Upon his arrival at the place he found a large company already assembled.

He looked around for the pretty girl, but she was nowhere to be seen.

She chanced to be in a shed frolicking with some others of the young people.
But as David, with his rifle on his shoulder, sauntered around, an aged Irish woman, full of nerve and volubility, caught sight of him.