Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-03-15
Great Banquet to the Potato on
his late recovery,


Potato, being now, it is hoped, thorough
ly re-established in health, it was deter
mined by few leading members of the
Vegetable Kingdom to offer banque. to
the worthy and convalescent root on his
happy recovery. The arrangements for
the dinner were on scale of great lib
eralily, and the guests included all the
principal vegetables. The invitations
had been carried out by an efficient corps
of Scarlet Runners, and the Onion occu-
pied the chair. He was supported on
his rgh! by the head of the Asparagus
family, while Salad occupied bowl at
the other end of the table, and was dress
ed in his usual manner. The Potato,
though just out of his bed, was looking
remarkably well, and wore his Jacket,
there being nothing TO mark his recent
illness, except perhaps little apparent
blackness around one of his eyes. Af-
ter the cloth had been removed, ..
The Onion got up TO propose as toast,
the Potato, their much respected guest.
Immense cheering. He, the Onion,
had known the Potato from infancy; and
though they had not always been associ-
ated in life, they had frequently met at
the same table. They had sometimes
braved together the same broils, and
found themselves often in such a stew the
alluded to the Irish stew as had brought
them, for the time being into an alliance
of the very closest kind. He, the On
ion, was delighted to see the Potato once
more restored TO its place in society; for
he, the Onion, could say without flaue-
ry, that society had endeavored to supply
the place of the Potato in vain. (hear,
hear.) They had heard of Rice having
been suggested to take the place of his
honorable friend, but the suggestion was
really ridiculous. Risum feneatis, am
ici, was all that he, the Onion, had to
say to that. Loud laughter, IN ,chich
all bu. the Melon joined.) He, the
Onion, would not detain them longer, bu!
would conclude by proposing health,
long life, and prosperity 10 the Potato.
The toast was received with enthusi-
asm by all but the Cucumber, whose
GOODNESS seemed TO excite much disgust
among his brother vegetables. The On
ion had, in fact, affected many of those
present to tears, and the Celery, who sa,
next to the Horseradish, hung down his
head in an agony of sensibility. When
the cheering had partially subsidized, the
Potato rose, but that was only sigma
for renewed enthusiasm, and il was some
minutes before silence was restored. Al
length the Potato proceeded nearly as
follows:
Friends and fellow vegetables. 1t is
with difficulty that | express the feeling
with which | have come here to-day
Having suffered for the last three or four
years from grievous disease which
seemed to threaten me with total dissolu
ton; ii is with intense sa satisfaction find
myself once more among you in the vigol
of health. (Cheers.) should be in
deed insensible to kindness, were te
forget the anxious inquiries that have
been made as TO the state of my health
by those who have held me in esteem
and sometimes in steam. ca laugh
IN which all but the Melon joiaed.)
cannot boas, OF long line Of ancestors
did not, like some of you, come in with
the CoNoUERoR, but came in the :rair
of civilization amidst the memorable lug
gage of SIR WALTER RALEIGH, in com
pany with my Right Honorable frien,
the Tobacco, who is not now present
but who often helps the Philosopher /,
take birds eye view of some of tn
finest subjects for reflection. Immens
cheering, and a nod Of assent from III
Iurnip Iop.) Though l may be for
eigner, may justly say, that have ia
ken root in the soil, and though ma,
not have the grace of the Cucumber, VIII,
seems 10 have come here in no enviabl,
frame loud cheering.) believe ] hav
done as much good as any living vegeta
BILE; for, though almost always at the ric
mans table, am seldom absent from tn
poor mans humble board. (Iremend
ous applause. "But," continued tn
, Potato, ''let me not get flowery, Q