Delaware gazette and American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1837, 1832-03-06
VIEW SERKESs V'OL. XIII. .NO. ESQ

Of an old French laly, and livery gladly accept
ed Of an invitation 70 eat my new-year's dinneT
with him. He took me to little Spanish plaster
house IN one Of the fauxbourgs; in front Of ~
stood large willow, its leaves still green amt
glossy, and IN the rear was a little garden sur.
rounded with orange hedges smoothly trimmed,
and rose trees IN full bloom; but there was no
scent TO the flowers. II was novel sight to mr,
who had Just left snow covered hills, and frozen
streams, and barren sbrubbery, with long pnulc1
,cices hanging in the place Of green leaves
/ What change was here Instead Of black heavy
clouds and chilling stormswere warm, soft sky
anu batmy breezes, and the Garth all covered
with dark green carpet spotted with flowers.
the monster Jack Frost is unknown here lie i
not Ct their nursery classics; he can't exist ii
this inhospitable cimate the breath OF flowers Is
llstsi TO him. The whole catalogue Of fre-sidv
COMFORTS. where iheyl
'fThe smoking chi6nies, which should be ss4
ssThe wind.pipes'uf good hospitality p u gt
the brisk rubbing OF hands those shruecings Of
the shoulders. as IL we felt old winter rFeeDins q
on to our backs-the fuegy breath curling itati
our mouths--the snug cusey crate, which attracts
all around il with centripctal rover til orr
elbows touch, and feel 40 iriesistblc ineIina.
ton TO clap each other on the knec--t6e brisk
swapping of faggots, making cheer ful tenur Ito
the gruH believing Of old BuI outside the Chased
shutters, and the mellow light Of the evening fi,e
lighting up the faces of the group hudtiIed around
nF-all, all are wanting. ea
when glowing embers through the ,pom +. +.
"reach light to counterfeit gloom ,.s.t
An Italian sun could not light up more en-.
chanting scene, one to make w fonder Of earth.
il may make brighter landscapes, Blu il makes da,k
er faces:
! shall always think myself one year younger
than really am, for | can but with difficulty
conceive that it will be more than a twelve.
month irom 1897 TO 1899. missed the beginning
OF the intermediate year. found myself in 1924
without showing how got there-it vas like the
SUMS returning from the west wthout setting,
and SO cheating US Of the night. I should make
but poor sort Of traveller; a change of climate
confuses my recollection; il seems like dance
Of seasons, as il April too nmble for old Japu
airy, and hopped into his place strange tongues.
and strange customs do not affect me much, as
am on the lookout for them. but change Of seas
ons cannot reconcile.
When we entered, we found the family wait.
ting dinner but what dinner Where rarouts
and hashes fitting viands Was unsubsten,ial
elaret a becoming beverage TO offer up to the
nefgeiaing Janus The air should be redolent
Of hgt punch and ssNoury-he should inhale sub
the lady like, gentle raspberry--ay, and the
tutelary deity Of the merry Youngsters the pur-
veyor Of little pendant stockings, honest Santa
claus P--worth all the gods in the pantheon, for
he never did an ungracous thing. Truly Janus
is two faced wight, else how could he smile on
the least, and changeling too p Mayhap, in
some after fine, | may meet him frolicking with
young maids on green knoIs, or signing by moon
light in honeysuckle arbour.
/ sat down TO dinner in a tolerable humour
considering that was haunted by the idea Of
home. could not rid myself Of the ungracious
trick OF making companons--it is unbec0nng in
all, but myst in travellers. But, when all the
dishes were removed, / began to incorporate my
self with those about me.-There were our hostess
a fine laughing old lady, sort of a female Falls.
tail IuSus nature among French wOmen-a Sturdy
Scotchman, with a face like furnished sun a
voice high and brazen, and eyes that looked like
faded violets swimming in port-a chubby little
Frencbman, comPte or coiifen, forgot which
The had been one OF Nap0leohs captains y his
right hand had some very honorable looking siumps
on it, the upper joints of which, he informed me,
he left in Spain-a sprighty brunette, shout TWEEN.
ty, aud her brother. the advocate. The Scotch
man showed a most hearty contempt for all about.
him, swore vehen,cntly that Frenchmah's con.
versatiOn was made up OF nothing but grunts and
grimaces, and thatthey lived on carct and tooth
picks. BY perseverng in copions libations Of the
liquor he appeared 10 have such a CONTEMPT fnr
he had set some OF his national preiudices on edge
but it was not strong enough TO blunt them. The
wine was thin, and weak, aud sour a tun Min .
would hardly produce an excitement amounf;,,,s
to a convivial feeling but the constant ringing
Of glasses at length produced an effect which the
wine could not-we grew merry on sounds
mos, unsubstantial mirih. Madame laughed; Ma. q
lemoisclle chatted; the Advocate srouted; the
Scotchman growled; the captain smiled, and NV
friend and myself did what we couii to keen thc
,umour up; but il was we'll nigh put to an end
" Madam requesting Monsieur, The captain. faa
ing her favourite song. Alas it was one ofr
lepoleOn's favourite arts and it brou aht with n
% many melancholy recollectons, that Mousienr IN
vas on the punt Of begging to be excused, but his
'oliteness got the better Of his sensibiIity. and
fter looking pathetically on medallion likeness
f the emperor, set in the cover Of his snuff,box,
e began. "Fidele lots de mon pays.,, anS,
ang through about dozen verses; his If,lo
ound face. reaching hardly above the table, enyrr-
d with smiles, snuff and tears. At the end or
he song, the Advocate and his sister. who we,e
hat evening going to masque ball, fell into
isPute about their dominoes, whether they should