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

altogether renounced the vanities OF
the world. The belle of the room APP
pcared to be Nitrous id,the grace
lulsiau,ater of Nitrogen; airy in all
her movements, and with dress OF
deepest crimson, that correspondent
well with the lip and cheek rivalling
the ruby in their redness.
Among the lady Metals too, there
were many of bright faces and re-
splendent charms hut | must pass
on to a description of the gentlemen
Of the party. Sulphur wore a suit
Of modest yellow-plush, while Phos-
phorus quite disconnected some Of
the most decorous matrons present,
by making his appearance in a pain
of nesh-colored tights. Phosphur-
cited Hydrogen, or as he is nickna-
med evil Of the Whisp," startled
me by fitting by in robe of living
flame, the dress in which the grace
less youngster is said to haunt
cIurch-yards and marshy places,
playing his pranks upon poor benign
ted travellers. .t'|
The King of the Metals, Gold, was
arrayed in truly gorgeous apparel ;
tho it must be confessed there was
a glitter and an air of haughtincss
about him, from which You would
turn with pleasure to the mild sweet
face of his royal sister, Silver, who
leaned upon his arm a bright-eyed,
unassuming creature, of sterling
worth.
Mercury was there, as lively and
versatile as ever; most restless
being; now by the thermometer ;
noting the subterranean tcmpcra-
turc now BY the barometer, pre-
dieting storm in the region over
head; now, arm-in-arm with this
Metal, then with that; and they all,
by the way, save stern old Iron, had
hard work to shake him off. A
strange character surely was he ;
a philosopher Of uncommon powers
of reflection; the vcriest uSy-body
in the world well versed in the
arts of healing; practical amalga-
mationist in short, complete fac
totum. Potassium, though a deci-
dcdiy brilliant looking fellow, mani
tested too much levity in his dcport-
ment to win respect, and was pro-
nounced by those who knew him best
to be rather soft. In gravity, Plati-
nun surpassed all the company in
natural brightness, Tin was out
shonc by few.
When Oxygen arrived, and his
light, elastic tread was heard, and
his clear transparent countenance
was seen among them, murmer OF
congratulation ran round the draw
ing-room, and Involuntary all as
sembled arose 70 do him homage. lie
was patriach indeed among them
literally father to many of the youn-
ger guests. His arrival was the signal
for adjournment to the banqueting
room, where Of right lie took his
seat at the head of the table.
Touching the apartment we have
now entered, | can only say that it
was grand beyond description. 1t
was lighted up with the radiance OF
MONDAY, by an arch of flame in
tensely dazzling, produced by Gu
rious apparatus which Galvanism,
who excelS in these matters, had
contrived for the occasion, out of
some materials with which his friends
Zinc and Copper had furnished him,
Festoons of evergreens and wreaths
of roses encircled the alabaster CO.
lumns, and made the whole look
like Fairy Land. ..
But | must describe the table anC
its paraphernalia. The preparation
of the viands, | mean the baking
boiling, roasting, stewing and the
like--had been committed to Calor.
ic, who has had long experience il
that department. The nobler of the
Metals had generously lent thei
costly service Of plate while Carbon
united with Iron to furnish the ele
giant steel cutlery used on the oca
sion. Alumina provided the fine Sc
Of china that graced the table ant
Slick and Potash, without solicita.
ton, sent, as their joint contribution
cut-glass pitchers and tumblers, o.
superior pattern and Transparency.
As among these sons of Nature
there is no craving for artificial cX
element, Oxygen and Hydrogen
(who by the way have done more TO
the Cold Water Societies than De
LEvAN or FATHER Mathew were
commissioned TO provide the drink
ablcs; and what beverage Mey fur
nishcd may easily be coniecturcd
Carbon, with Oxygen, found mos
of the vegetables; and Nitrogen
whose assistance as commissar,
here was indispensable, joined then
in procuring the meats, under whicl