Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-02-08
Select Gales.
Brom Blackwood's Magazine
The First and Last Dinner.
A TALE OF LIFE.
ON THE CLOSE AND OPENING OF THE YEAR

llzed by their pursuits, their family connexions,
and other local interest," as permanent nhabt.
ants of the metropolis, agreed one day when they
were drinking their wine at the Star and Gar
ter, at Richmond, to institute an ANIMAL dinner
among themselves under the following rcrula-
| tons; That they should dine alternately at each
others houses en tue 'Olo--Icsse y..,.-
year; that the first bottle of wine unoorcked at
the first dinner, should be recorcked and put
away, to be drank by him who should be the
last Of their number; that they should never adj
nit new member; that when one died, eleven
were to meet, and so on and that when only
one remained, he should, on those two days, dine
by himself, and sit the usual hours at his solitary
table, but the first time he so dned alone, lest 1t
should be the only one, he should then uncork
the first bottle, and in the first glass, drink to the
memory of all who were gone.
There was something original and whimsical
in the idea, and it was eagerly embraced. They
were all in the prime Of life closely attached by
reciprocal friendship, fond of social enjoyments,
and looked forward to their future meeting, with
unalloyed feelings of pleasure. The only thought
indeed that could have dorkened those anticipa-
tons, was one not likely'to intrude itself ut the
moment, that of the hapless wight who was des-
tined to uncork the first bottle at his lonely re-
past.
1t was high summer when this frolic compact
was entered into and as their pleasure yacht
skinned along the dark bosom of the Thames,
on their return to London, they talked of nothing
but their first and last feasts of ensuing years.
Their imaginations ran riot with a thousand gay
predictions of festive merriment. They wanton.
ed in conectures of what changes time would
create.
Gas for you, George" exclaimed one of the
twelve, addressing his brother-in law, -" expect
| shall see you as dry, withered and shrunksn as
an old eel skin, you mere outside of man
he accompanied the words with heavy
the shoulder.
George Fortescue was leaning carele.
the side of the yacht, laughing the
on. The sudden manual salution of his 81
in-law threw him off his balance, and in a mo-
splash of his fall, before they oosid ~ -sYy
have seen him fall. The yacht was proceeding
swiftly along, but it was instantly stopped.
The utmost CONSERVATION now prevailed. 1t
was nearly dark, but Fortescuc was know to be
an excellent swimmer, and startling as the accl-
dent was, they felt certain that he would regain
the vessel. They could not see him. They
listened. They heard the sound of his hands
and feet. An answer was returned, but IN
faint gurgng voice, and the exclamation " Of
Cod" struck upon their ears. In an instan
two or three, who were expert swimmers
PLUNGED into the river and swan towards tht
spot whence the exclamation proceeded. Ont
of them was within arms length of Fortescue
he saw him; before he could be reached, he wen
down, and his distracted friend beheld the eddy
inc circles of the wave Just over the spot wher
he had sunk. lie Owed after him and touche
the bottom; but the tide must have drted til
body onward. for it could not be found!
Tbev proceeded to one of the nearest station
where drags were kept, and having procured tn
nee cssarv apparatus repaired to the fatal spot.
After the lapse of about an hour they succeede
in raising the ifeless body of their lost frend.-
, All the usual remedies were employed for II
storEnr suspended animation, but in vain; the
now pursued the remainder of their course
London. in mournful silence, with the corpse
} him who had commenced the day of pleasur
: with them in the fulness of health, of spirits, ar
J of life! And in their severe grief they could n
t but reAec! how som one Of the joyous twelS
: had slipped out of this little festive circle.
$ The months rolled on, and cold Decemb
= came with all its cheering round of kindly gree
t, inos and merry Inequalities. and with it came
:, soRened recollection of the fat, of poor Forte
a cue eleven of the twelve assembled on Il
twelve assembled on the last day of the yea
n and it was impossible not to feel their loss
n thew sat down to dinner. The very Irregular
is of the table-fve on one side and six on 4
h, other-forccd the melancholy event upon thu
is memory.
e. A decorous sigh or two, low, becomr
l. ejaculation, and an instructive observation up
" the uncertainty of life, made up the sum OF tt
l. der posthumous "ofiering to the name of pr
M George Fortescue," as they proceeded to d
y charge the more important duties for which ii
he had met. BY the time the third glass of cha
u pagne had gone round, In addition to the pc
he tons of fine old hook, and "oapItal NADER
as they had ceased to discover anything so v
In pathetic in the inequality of the two sides OF
table, or so melancholy in their crippled mum
a. of eleven. a..
IL Several years had elapsed, our eleven Ire
n kent up their double anniversaries as they mi
e, aptly enough be called, with scarcely any
n ceptible change. But alas there came
re dinner at last, which was darkened with
IN lamity they never expected to witness; toI
er that day, their friend, companion-brother'
as most-.was hanged! Yes, Stephen Rowla
the wit the oracle, the life of their circle,
.e, on the morning of that day forfeited his life
Is scafFold, for having made single stroke
re his pen in a wrong place. In other wore
he bill of exchange which passed into his hands
nat e7O0, passed out of 1t for El7OO'
i'm It v,oald be injustice to the ten to say
ike even wine, friendship and merry season, c
TIL not dispel the gloom which prevailed this
3D. ner h was agreed before hand that they Sh