Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-24

'N" 'o.hS mac oecome griz,l.I
two or three heads had no, as many .oeks ,-N I
gether as may be -eckoned in a wall -, ~, .'s'
mile along the Regents Canal; one wa, ~ s., uaIs
covered with brown wig; The crows fss, a3H!
visible in the corner of the eve; good ,,I we're
and warm madeira carried i, apainv t pO,'
claret, red burgundy and champsenr .' "oSN
hashes; and ragouts, grew into fsyour. ,,
were rarely called for 10 relish the chs... -' ~
ter dinner; conversation was less bo;s,.S. d.
and it turned chiefly upon politics and T w
state OF he funds, or the valLe of LANDED ~. We
perry. apologies ware made for Conf, p':>
thick shoes and warm STOCKINGS lhs ds.' Al
and windows were more carefully o,or;I
with list and sand-bags; the fire more - y.
qpes, and quiet game Uf whist filled m ~ ~
hours that were wont 10 be devoted 10 dr;,r
ing, singing, and riotous merimenL r..
rubbers, cup of coffee, and at home bv -,
en- o'clock, Was The usual cry, when the Shb.,
sixth glass had gone round after the remny.
Of the cloth. AT parting, too, there was now
long ceremony in the hall, bu,touing IN ,r.r
coats, tying on wooden comforIers, iyine ,;t
| handkerchisfs over the mouth and IN =, 80
ears, and gras2ing sturdy Walkine.csrs,,
support unsteady feet.
Their iifieth anniversary came and l.,,,
had indeed been busy. One had been sj,.s
by the overturning Of the msii, in Which T..
had taken his place in order to be present,
the dinner, having purchased an estate !,
Monmouth shire, and retired thilher with Al,
family. Another had undergone til. ,.rs,
operation for the stone, and expired bsDr,,b
The knife; a third had yielded up Lrok.r
spirit TWO years af'er the loss Of an ony,,ur.
vi,ing and beloved daughter; fourth w,
carried off in few days by cholera mor5a
a fifth had brealhed his last Oh the very NOM
ing he obtained jdngmenl in his favour by II.
Lord Chancellor which had cost him his !.y
shilling nearly 10 ger, * which, alter liris.
ZION Of eighteen wears, declared him The rgn,
full pos-ssor of ten thousand year,--'en nit
utes after he was no more A sixth had or.
ished by The hand Of midnight assassin, VII:
broke into his house for plumber, and sacrif.
ed the owner Of ii, as he grasped con,uIsi,ty
a bundle Of Exc hequer bills, which the ,obt:
was drawing from beneath his pillow where b.
knew they were every uight placed for bette;
security.
-FOUR iil''C thCUy vi dDrcdIsNt
and decrepit walk, with cracked voices art
dim, rayess eyes, sat down, by the mercy
Heaven, Gas they themselves TREMENDOUSLY de-
clared,) 10 celebrate, for the fitch time, ID;
first day of the year; to observe the frolic COM
pact, which, half century before, they had en-
| tered iuto al the Star and Garter al Richmond
Eight were in their graves The four 'haFs'
NAMED stood upon its confines. Yet they cOir2,
ed CHI, erily over their glass, though they could
scarcely carry it to their lips, ii more taar
halt full; and cracked their jokes, though they
| ariicua,ed their words with difficulty, aht
heard each other with still greater difficulty
| They mumbled, they chstted, they laughed u
i surf orsUrangTed wheeling might be called!
augbG and when the wines sen, their icy bloc.
in warmer pulse through their veins, they talk
ed of the pas: as if it were but yesterday that
had slipped by them,- and Of their fu ure {.
if it were busy century that lay before them.
They were just the number for quiet rub.
OF whist; and for three successive years t'H
sa, down 10 one. The fourth came, and ihH
their rubber was played with an open Dunn
fifth, and whist was no longer praclieabI;h.
could play only a, cribbage, and c'lbbsge va
the game. But il was little more than 70:
mockery of play. Their palsrd hands cOoE
hardly hold; or their fading sight dis'ioSuha
the cards, while their torpid faculties mac
them duze between each deal.
At length came the LAST dinner ana u"
survivor Of the twelve, upon whose head '0'''
SC ore and ten winters had showerrd 'htir SNOW
ate his solitary meal. 1t So CHANGED thai II v"
in his house, aud Al his table, they had C."
brated the first. In his cellar, TOO, had REMAIN,
ed, for eigh, and fifty years, he bottle they d"
then uncorktd d, re-curked, an which he was '"''
dav 10 uncork again. 1t stood beside nm
With feeble and reluctant grasp he TOOK W.
"fraiI memorial" Of youthful vow; aud III
moment, memory was faithful 10 her ONCE
She threw open The long vista If buried y''Ih
ard his heart travelled through them 81; '.i
Ius aud blthesome spriHg,-'helr OnS'' ~.
fervid summer,-iheir ripe and temperate
tumn,-lheir chill, but not too frozen "'"I'
He saw, as in mirror, how one W o'e'
laughing companions of that perry hoa"
Richmond, had dropped INTO e!eIh1!,i
He f. 1T all The loneliness Of his condition. ~
he had eschewed marriage, aud in 'he v'H' y.
no living creature ran drop OF blood "''.
source was in his own); and as he draned ~
glass which be had flied, "to the mem''f ~
those who were gone," the tears s.o"N ~
led down the deep furrows Of his aged ''',,
He had thus fu filed one part Of his vow, ' ~,
he prepared himself to discharge The o.05 49,,
sitting the usual number Of hours at 10 49,