Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-10-26

A STORY OF OUR OWN Times A venera-
BILE old Dutchman, after having occupied all
the offices of one of our principal cities Of
the republic with great honor, and having
amassed large fortune in the most urex-
ceptonable manner, finally formed the
resolution of going to terminate his days
TRANQUILITY at his country seat. But be,
fore retiring he wished to take leave OF
his friends and citizens and connexions.
ard accordingly invited them to feast al
his house.
The guests, who expected most sump-
tuous repast, were much surprised on enter
terlng the eating room, to see there onp
oaken table, hardly covered with coarse
blue cloth. On being seated; they were
served on wooden plates. with salted her
ring, rye bread and butter, with some cheese
and curdled milk. Wooden vases, filled
with small beer, were passed round for each
OF tho guests to serve themselves. The ex-
treme oddity of the old gentleman caused
secret murmuring among the company; but
out of respect to his age and wealth, instead
OF showing discomfort, they pretended to
relish their frugal fare, and some of them
even conplimented him upon the cordialny
OF some good old times which he had
brought to remembrance. The old man
who was not duped by this feigned sat,s'ac-
tion--dld not wish to carry the Joke farther,
bat at gwen signal which he gave, some
servants, ,habited as country women, entered,
bringing the second service. A white cloth
succeeded the brown ones, and some pewter
plates succeeded the wooden ones. In
stead frye bread, herring and cheese,
they were served with good brown bread,
fresh beef, boiled fish, and strong beer.
At this unexpected change the secret mur-
murs ceased, the polite invitations on the
part of the old man became more pressing,
and the guests ate with better appetite.
Hardly had they lime to tas this the second
service, when they saw a butler enter, fol- |
lowed by halfa dozen servants in brilliant
livery, bringing the third. A superb table |
covered with beautiful flow
cred cloth, replaced the old oaken one. A |
was Immediately covered with
the richest plates and curious china; and |
the sight of profusion of rare and exquisite
meats. The most delicious wines were
freely passed around while melodious CON
cert was heard IN an adjonning room.
Toasts were drank, and all were merry.
But the good old man perceiving that his pre-
sence hindered his guests from giving them
selves up TO their full joy, and addressed
them thus:
give you thanks, ladies' and gentlemen,
for the favor which you have granted me.
1t is. time should retire, myself and leave
you to your liberty. But before the ball
commences, winch | have ordered to be
prepared for those who love to dance, permit
me to acqualnt you with the design that pro-
posed to myself in inviting you to the repasL
which has appeared so odd. have wished
to give you an idea of our Republic. Our
rose to their state and acquired |
liberty, riches and power, by living in the
frugal manner which you saw in the first
service. Our fathers preserved these great
blessings only by living IN the sim yle man.
ner ofwhich the second service has retraced
an image. lfit is permitted to an old man
who is about to leave you, and tendery |
loves you, to speak clearly what he thinks,
must say, fear that the extravagant pro-
lesson which, you may have remarked in
the last service, and which is the present
style of living, will deprive us of more than
our ancestors have acquired by the sweat OF
their brow and our fathers have transmitted
to us by their industry and wise admlnstra-
tion."