The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-02-06

the oysters, carbonate OF Lime mao
sent III the shell; the pyramids Of
ice cream for the dessert were pro-
vided by the daughters of Chlorine
and Sodium, who were out several
hours in the snow, engaged in freez-
ing them; and the almonds and
peaches came from the conser-
vatory of Hydrocyanic Acid, the
druggist.
After grace had been said by AZ
fnity, who is sort Of chaplain to
the Elements, having oificiated at
the weddings of all the married ones
of the company, vigorous onset
was made upon the good things
before them. At first all were too
much engaged for conversation but
the dessert appearing at last, as
they cracked the nuts the jest too was
cracked; toast and song were call
ed for, and wit and innocent hiIarity
became the order of the day. Even
Oxygen who had presided with such
an air of dignity, relaxed from his
sternness, and entertained the
younger ones at the table with ma
ny a tale Of his mischievous pranlis
in the days Of old father Chaos, when
Time and himself were young.
Strange tales they were. too. of
earthquakes with which Hydrogen
and he would now and then frighten
the lcthyosauri and Megctheria of
the ancient world; and of confa-
grations comical, as old Vulcan's
tongs and anvil, kindling them be-
fore his eyes with the very bolt he
was forging: "This, however," he
added, with a sly glance at his staid
partner Nitrogen, who sat near,
''was before marriage had sobcred
down his spirits, and tanned lis i'm
petuosity."
have no space to chronicle more
of these freaks of Oxygcn's early
youth, nor any of the sayings and
domgs of others of the party on this
memorable night. Else would ]
give the marvellous story Nickel had
to relate, Of falling Out he once
had with the man in the moon, and
a journey he was consequently I'M
der the necessity of making in hot
haste to the earth for refuge.
would tell too of the drolleries of
Nitrous OXyd, that funniest, queer
est, crazyest Of youngsters; and
how Phosphorus made flaming
speech, and Potash a caustic one
and how Mercury proposed as a
toast "The medical profession: to
whom we say, 'Use us but DO not
abuse u.s." ! must speak however
of a curious little by-scene | chan
ced to witness it was a Irritation
that Platinum was carrying on with
Hydrogen, whom, much to my sur
prise, found seated among the Me-
tails, and quite at home among them,
too. There was quite a contrast
between Platinum, gray, heavy, and
dull as he was, and the light and
buoyant creature by his side: but
there soon seemed to be evidence
of some mutual attraction. Plati-
nun grew warm in his attentions,
and ere long quite flame was kim
died between them.
So passed the evening: all went
emery as marriage-bell," with
nothing to mar the good hnmor tina.
prevailed till, in an evil hour, Sui
phuretted Hydrogen, disagreeablc
fellow, against whose appearance at
the banquet most of the company
had protested, entered the apart
ment with very offensive air. In
an instant the whole family of Me-
tails, to whom he was particularly
obnoxious, changed color; Lead
fairly grew black in the face with
indignation; Arsenic and Anti
mony seemed to be jaundiced with
rage; Ammonia, to whom his pre-
sence recalled very unpleasant as
sociations, in trying to avoid him,
precipitated several Metallic Oxides
to the floor; while Chlorine, with
more self-command than the rest
advanced with firm step to cxpeI
the intruder, looking as if she were
about to annihilate him on the spot.
How the scene might have ter
minated | know not; for just at tina,
moment strange sound, of awful
import, like the trampling of 9
mighty host, came to my ears: felt
sure it was can earthquakes voice.
and that now my fate was sealed
My knees tottercd under me the
arching grotto and the festive hoarc
gradually vanished from before my
eyes, which -. opened upon the
class, as they were leaving the la.
horatory of our worthy Professor o
Chemistry, where it seemed, mucl
to my confusion, / had fallen aslceI
during lecture,
"And dreamed a dram in The mids, Of m,