The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-05-21

his family. Another had undergone the
terrific operation for the stone, and expired
beneath the knife---a third had yielded up a
broken spirit two years after the loss OF an
onIv surviving and beloved danghter--a
Co,,r.t was carried off in q few days by q
rboiera piorbas-a a fifth had breathed his last
The very morning he obtained judgment
in his favor by tho Lord Chancellor, which
had cost him nearly his last shilling to get
and which, after litigation Of eighteen
wears, declared him the rightful possessor
Of ten thousand year,--ten minutes alter
wards he was no more. A sixth had per-
ished by the hand Of midnight ASSASSIN,
who broke into his house for plumber, and
sacrificed the swncr Of it, as he grasped
convulsvely bundle of Exchequer bills,
which the robber was drawing from beneath
his pillow, where be knew they were every
night placed for better security.
Four little old men, Of withered appear
ancc and decrepid walk, with cracked vol
ces and dim ray less eyes, sat down, by mer-
cy of Heaven (as they themselves tremu'
lously declared TO celebrate, FOR the fiti-
eth time, the first day ut' the year; to observe
the frolc compact, which, hafa century be-
fore, they had entered into at the Star and
Garter at Richmond! Eight verc in heir
graves! Yet they chrped cheerily over their
glass, though they could scarcely carry It
TO their lips, If more than half full; and
cracked their Jokes, though they aTtTculated
their words with difficulty and heard each
other with still greater difficulty. They
mumbled, they cha,tered, they laughed, If
a sort Of wheeling might be called Iangh;l
nnd when the wines sent their icy blood
through their veins, they talked OF their
past as if it were but yesterday that had
clipped by them; and Of their future rs u II
were busy century that lay before them.
They were just the number for quiet
rubber Of whist; and for three successive
wears they sat down to one. The fourth
came, and then their rubber was played
with an open dummy; FIFTH and whist was
no longer practicable; t,co could play only
at crbbagc, and crbbage was the game.
But it was little more than the mockery o
play. Their palsed hands could hardly
hold, or their fading sight distinguish, the
cards, while lhoir torpid faculties made
them doze between each deal.
At length came the LAST dinner; and the
survivor Of the twelve, upon whose head
four score and ten winters had showered
their snow, ate his solitary meal. 1t so
chanced that it was in his house, and at
his table they had celebrated the first. In
his cellar, too, had reWained, for eight and
fifty years tho bottle they had then uncork
cd, recorked, and which he was that day to
uncork again. II stood beside him. With
a feeble and reluctant grasp he took the
'frail memorial" of youthful vow; and for
n moment memory was faithful to her Office.
Sho threw open the long vista OF buried
years; and his heart travelled through them
all. Their lusty and bli,hesome spring.
their bright and fervd summer,-their ripe
and temperate autumn,--their chill, but not
too frozen winter. He saw, as in mirror,
how one by one, the laughing companions
Of that merry hour at Richmond, dropped
into eternity lie felt all the loneliness Of
his condition (for he had eschewed marriage
and in the veins Of no living creature ran
a drop of blood whose source was in his own
and as he drained the giuss wHrrn he had
Gllcd go the memory Of those who were
gone" the tears slowly trickled down the
deep burrows Of his aged face.
He had thus fulfilled one part OF his VOW
and he prepared himself to discharge the
other, by sitting the usual number OF
hours At his dcsolate table. With heavy
heart he resigned himself to the gloom OF
his own thoughts-a lethargc sleep stole
over him-his head fell upon his bosom
confused images crowded into his mind
he bubbled to bimself-was si!on;-and
when his servant entered the room, alarm
ed by q noise which he heard, he found his
master stretched upon the carpet at the foot
of the easy chair, out of which he had slip
ped in an appoploc,ic fit. He never spoke
a q ain, nor once opened his eyes, though the
vital spark was not extinct till the following
day. And this was the LAST DINNER.