Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-06-10

lNli o1 lHC iNAt Va - '
dew. | opened it,-and had nearly tainted with
| disappointment 1t was from a stock-broker,
| who beoins an anecdote of Mr.. Rothschild be-
fore dinner, and finishes it with the fourth bottle,
and who makes his eight children stay up to sup
per and snap dragon. In Matchmaking a stray
Stone in one of his periodical buildings, | once
lost a tooth, and with it an heiress of some reputa-
ton. wrote a most irritable apology. and dis
patched nv warmest regards in a whirlwind.
December the twenty fourth began to count
the hours, and uttered many poetical things
about the wings of Time. Alack. no letter came
yes, | received a note from a distinguished dra-
matist, requesting the honor, sc. But | was too
cunning for this, and p~ractiscd wisdom for once.
| happened to reflect that his p%antomime was to
make its appearance on the night after, and that
his object was to perpetrate the whole programme
upon me. Regret that | could not have the plea
sure of meeting Mr.. Paulo, and the rest of the
iterati to be then and there assembled, was, Of
course, Immediately expressed.
My mind became restless and agitated. | felt,
amidst all these invitations, cruelty neglected.
They served, indeed, but to increase my uneasi-
ness, as they opened prospects of happiness in
which [ could take no share. They discovered a
most tempting desert, composed of forbidden
fruit. | took down - Childe Harold" and read
myself into a sublime contempt of mankind.
began to perceive that merriment IS only malice
in disguise, and that the chief cardinal virtue is
misanthropy.
| safe nursing nv wrath till it scorched
me; when the arrival of another epistle suddenly
charmed me from this state of delicious melan.
choly and delightful endurance of wrong. ! sick
ened as | surveyed, and trembled | as opened it.
1t was dated from -. but no matter; it was
not the letter. In such a frenzy as mine, raging
to behold the objectof MY alteration condescend,
not TO eat a custard, but to render 1t invisible
to be invited perhaps to a tart fabricated by her
own ethereal fingers: with such possibilities be-
fore me. how could [ think Of joining a :. friend
" party where | should inevitably sit next to a
deaf lady, who had been. when a little girl, pat
ted on the head by Wilkes. or my Lord North,
| she could not ~recOllect whlch-had taken tea
with the author Of ".Junius." but had forgotten
his name-and who once asked me whether
! Mr.. Mundcn's monument was in Westminster
Abbey or st. Paul's::" seized a pen. and pre-
scented my compliments. | hesitated-for the
peril aud precariousness of my situation flashed
on my mind? but hope had still left me a straw to
catch at. and | at length succeeded in resisting
this late and terrible temptation.
After the first burst Of excitement | sunk into
still deeper dependency. My spirit became a
prev TO anxiety and remorse. | could nt eat;
dinner was removed with unified covers. went
out. The world seemed to have acquired a new
face; nothing was to be seen but raisins and rounds
of beef. | wandered about like Lear-I had
given up all. | felt myself grated against the
world like a nutmeg. 1t grew dark sus-
tanned a still gloomier shock. Every chance
seemed to have expired, and ever body seemed
to have a delightful engagement for the next day.
| alone was disengaged-l felt like the Last Man!
Tomorrow Appeared already to have commenced
its career; mankind had anticipated the future;
land coming mince-pies cast their shadows be-
fore"
In this state of desolation and dismay | called
i could not help tat the house to whicA had
so tondly anticipated an inNitation and a wei
come. MY protest must here however be record
ed, that though | called in the hope of being ask
ed, it was nv fixed determination not to avail my
self of so protracted a piece of politeness. No:
my triumph would have been to have annihilated
them with an engagement made in September.
payable three months after date. With these feel
ings l gave an agitated knock-they we're stoning
the plums, and did not Immediately attend. |
rung-hOw unlike a dinner bell it sounded! A
girl at length made her appearance, and. with a
mouthfnl of citron. Informed me that the family
had gone to spend their Christmas-eve in Port
land place. | rushed down the steps, | hardly
knew whittier. My first impulse was to 70 to
some wharf and inquire what vessels were start
ing for America. But it was a cold night
went home and threw myself on my miserable
couch.-In other words, | went to bed.
l dOZed and dreamed away the hours until day
break. Sometimes | fancicd myself seated in a
roaring circle, roasting chesnuts at a blazing log:
at others. that | had fallen into the Serpentine
while skating, and that the Humane Society were
piling upon me a Pelion. or rather a Vesuvius of
blankets. | aweke a little refreshed. Alas. it
was the twenty-fft Of the month-it was Christ
mas day. Let the reader, if he possesses the
imagination of Milton, conceive my sensations.
| swallowed an atom of dry toast-notiing
could calm the fever of my soul. | stirred the
fire and read Zimmerman alternately. Even
reasonable last remedy one has recourse 10 in
such cases-came at length to nv relief: | ar
sued myself into a philosophic fit. But, UNI
luckily, Just as the L.ethean tide within me was
at its height, my landlady broke in upon my lc-
thargy, and chased away. by a single word, all
the little spirits and pleasures that were acting as