Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-04

MS patent lnKStand, which mad mlSt0ok
for sand, and poured the black fluid over
the pages of his ledger with a grand -four
ish. Frightened half to death at WHAT
had done, snatched my snow white b~slly .
kerchief from my pocket and began 20 30
it up. 10
why Mr.. BlushwelI, what do you nean,'
said the Cousin, pushing me and my ink
mop to one side. You must be possessed
he added with smile. / felt like burning
up. He soon had things put to rights, and
taking my arm started for the room where
the company was assembled. On my way
thiiber. judgr of my JmortifseaS SSoses d see an
ink splotch on myswhite pants as large as
the Generals epauletts. could only think
Help me Heaven =
The room doer was opened by the Cous-
in. Determined upon desperate effort,
like silly fool, l sprung from the side of
the cousin, and commenced bowing front
and rear, right and left, flank and file,
scraping first with one foot and then the
other. Seeing an old cook, black as the
ace of spades, carrying huge dish of pie
in front of me, pitched into her in my fren-
zy-my head in the old creatures back
with such force as to send dark cook and
luscious pie into the floor. l blindly ad-
vanced as | heard the old cook exclaim-
lor'y, gor' y massa sake alive 2 Felt worse
than when we rushed upon the enemy's
guns the other day.
Didn't hear the civil compliments and
the introductions given by the company.
Blind as post and had roaring in nv
ears. Felt hot as furnace. Thought Of
the sevenfold hot furnace, Abednego and
the two others. Couldn't look up vet j:
felt sure the introduction part hadn't come
yet. Continued to bow and scrape, and
calculate, yours, truly-yours respectful
ly-yours, affectionatel YOURS, and so
forth'-until arrested by another mishap.
l had scraped my acquaintance up to the
spot where the pie was foored. Negro too
much terrified to remove it. Made pro-
found inclination. Right foot found its way
into the rich pastry. Everything looked
black as the old negro. Lost my personal
balance. Obeyed the universal laws of
gravity. Fell, five feet eight inches and
three quarters on the floor. All of me-
Broke couple of fine chairs in the fall
Heard the crash distinctly. Young lady fell
with me. Think now she must have been
in the act of seating herself in one of the
chairs, A severe bump on my head OPEN
ed my eyes at the instant. Heard low gig
Cling. Saw terrified old negro-black SPOT
on my pants-broken chairs--cousin aehast
and beautiful young lady scrambling
up from the ruins. Gracious, Major, it was
Rhoda! Thought Of Earthquakes. ITALY,
Moscow, South America, StromboIi. Felt
sure there had been terrible Earthquake.
Scrambled up and asked if anybody was
hurt by the Earthquake. Company said
there had been no Earthquake. Felt like
fool.
Cousin said it was the best joke of the
season. wanted to die or do something.
Went and leaned on the sideboard while
the old darkey wiped up the mashed pie.
Company laughed laughed too.
Dinner was next.
Cousin said he was going to do the a.
greeable.' Performed that by seating me
next to Rhoda Wished myself on the
brink of Etnas crater. Felt like burning
up. Tried to think of the name of all the
volcanoes. Give that up. Thought of mes
merism, magnetism and juxta-position.
a servant with hot soup interrupted my
cogtations. Rhoda proposed that l take
soup. Rhoda hadn't been served. Nv old
Aunt, peace to her beloved ashes, had taught
me always to wait on the ladies first. She
was lady herself Rhoda was LADY,
RhOda must have soup before l was prori-
ded. Compliments and civiities began to
be exchanged. Saw trouble would grow
out the civilities. Negro waiter standing
behind with more hot soup waiting on me
and Rhoda. Looked imploringly in Rhoda's
face and asked her if she wouldn't have
some soup. She smiled and thanked me.
That upset me. Forgot / had plate of
soup in my hand, in the first place turn
ing to speak TO the waiter for soup, I spill
ed half the hot soup in Rhoda's lap, in the
second place; she screamed-I overdone
the matter in leveling the plate and spilled
the remainder in my own lap, in the third
place; burnt me like melted lava, and, in
the fourth place, l sprung back with yell,
overturned Rhoda with me, spilled the me-
gro and his tureen Of hot soup and we all
were promiscuous articles-Rhoda-the ne
gro, me and soup. Remember how we all
looked, including g,Ahe soup. II was Macca-
roni
Rhoda rushed from the room. 1 apologi-
sed The negro sniggered and pinched his
flat Lose to keep from laughing out The
Cousin consoled me. Servant brought me an.
other plate. My pantaloons inundated
: Somebody said it might have been worse
Sadif the soup bad been scalding. Thought
1t was worse, myself. Felt the smarting
: OF hot Maccaroni. Suppose he didn't
Khoda was back at my side in another dress.
apologsed to her. Passed off as a most
excellent joke. Didn't feel much like laugh.
ing myself A man just burnt seldom does.
7 Rhoda smiled. l began to feel better
Felt something running down my face
e 1t was either sweat or Maccaroni. l wiped
e it with my handkerchief Had forgot the
: inkstand. In drying my face, had turn
: ed into blackamoor like him of the tureen
e of soup.
! Cousin, company and Rhoda all began to
look at me and laugh. Thought them very
d lmpollte. The inkstand business came over
y me like flash. Knew was black as me-
n gro.
d This was more than my sensitive nature
y could stand. Hadn't eat half enough but
:. somehow Ididnt feel hungry. Jumped up
6 from the table. Like fool, had fastened