The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-07-05
WI i cell m G o N 8.
LOVE AND PIQUE;
II, ENEs AT w TERlNG FLAG e
BY MRS. EMMA C. EMBuRY.
[Concluded.J
2ND PART.-THE DINING ROOM.

2ND PART.-THE DINING ROOM.
Is there any thing more musical to the ear to
the time-sck ounger at a fashionable watering
place than the dinner bell ? Talk of the melody
Of running streams, the signing Of summer winds,
the carol Of forest birds they may be all very
pleasant sounds to certain moods OF the mind, hut
for music that never fails TO please, sound that
never falls YEARLY upon the senses, voice which
is neve, uttered to listless ear, commend me 10
that dinner bell The dullest face brightens into
some thing like intelligence, the most confirmed
valetudiparian forgets all elegant debility the most
intellectual remember the pressing claims Of the
physical man, and the most refined of women ven
,ure to look somewhat interested in the vulgar du-
ty Of dining. The saloon crowded with com
pany all eager for the summons which was to
transform them into eating animals.
"Pray Why" SAID a gentleman who was some
what famous for puns, conundrums and such little
wtlicsms, preferrng it seemed TO shoot the''rats
and mice and such small deer of literature because
he could draw long rather than a strong bow
e'Prny, said ho in that halfsuppressod voice which,
like theatrical aside, is sure to be overheard in a
crowd, "why is this saloon like tho President s
levoe do you give it up? why 1t is filled with a
crowd of hungry appellants ha ma : ha !"
The Joke would have been excellent for af
ter dinner Speech but tho audacy Of uttering an
idle jest while so many persons were keenly alive
to one OF tho suforngs OF irail huma nifty was very
properly punished. No body laughed, and to his
infinite regret the great Mr.--saw that he had
wasted his wit The first stroke ofthe second bell
brought all to their feet suddenly If they had
been subjected to the power of the galvani bat
terry. Cecil Forester, alfred with unusual care,
oil the lurking daud ysm of his character fully but
not Extensively displayed, had been of the first
in the saloon, determined to give Miss Oriel les
son in Indifference. But she did not appear, and
the band struck up march, the usual signal for
deploying into the dining room, he took the hand
! of his neighbor, who happened to BIO very pretty
woman, and followed the somewhat slow pace OF
| tho process ion.
| The important business of the dinner table was
| half finished the soup, the fish, even the joints
had disappeared, and the voracity of the elegants
| had given place to Righteousness they unused
themselves with bit of ris de glace pitt
pate de Perigord, when ligh, hustle at the door
attr acted universal attention. dumpy, overdrcs.
sed old lady, leaning on the arm OF delicate, fair
haired grI, entered with that fussy manner, SO
characteristic of an out of place feeling, while,
Immediately following her, with complexion as
cool and Fl esh as marble, if one could only imag
inc marble tinged with the rose tint of youth and
| health-a complexion such as nothing but morn
ing bath can give-came the elegant Miss Oriel.-
l There was there the very perfection OF art in her
! hole appearance. She had chosen for her en-
trance the moment when the fierce appetes oil
| those who eat 10 kill time (and sometimes end by
killing Intensely es) were sufficiently appeased to en-
able them to admire something else besides The
reeking dishes Among the heated and flushed
beauties that sat around the table, win relaxed
ringcts and moistencd brows, she appeared i!ke
some fairy of the fountain, some water nymPn
fresh from her sub marine grotto, dihusins ABOUT
her cool and refreshing atmosphere as she NOV
ed gracefully onward. Her dress was white trans
parent muslin, which displayed rather 'han Ve''ed