Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-27


expected to witness for on that day, their
friend, companion, brother almost, was
hanged Yes. Stephen Rowland. /. the wit,
the oracle, the life Of their circle, had,
on the morning of that day, forfeited his
life upon the scaffold, for having made one
single stroke Of the pen in wrong place.
In other words, bill of exchange which
passed into his hand for f7o0 passed out
of it f1,7oo
It would be injustice to the ten to say
that even wine, friendship. and a merry
season could dispel the gloom which per-
vaded this dinner. 1t was agreed before
hand that they should not allude to this
melancholy theme and having thus in
terdicted the only thing which really oc-
cupied all their thoughts. the natural con-
sequence was, that silent contemplation
took the place of dismal discourse; and
they separated long before midnight lhad
arrived.
Some fifteen years had now glided away
since the fate of Rowland, and the ten re-
mained; but the stealing hand Of time
had written sundry changes in most legi-
bic characters Raven locks had become
grizzled, two or three heads had not as
locks altogether as may be recorded in a
walk of half mile along the Regents
Canal--one was actually covered with
brown wig the crows feet were visible
in the eyes Of anothar-good old port and
warm madeira carried il against hook, clar-
ct and red burgundy, and champaign -
stews, hashes, and ragouts grew into favor
-crusts were rarely called for to relish the
cheese after dinner--conversati grew
less boisterous, and turned chiefly on pol
itics and the state Of the funds, or the val
ue Of landed property - apologies wore
made for coming in thick shoes and warm
stockings-tho doors and windows were
provided carefully with list and sand-bags
the fro moro in request-and q quiet
game of whist filed up the hours that
were won't to be devoted to drinking, sing
ing and riotous msrriment. The rubbcrs,
a cup Of coffee, and at homo by IL O'Clock,
was tho usual cry, when the fifth or sixth
glass had gone around after the removal Of
the cloth. At parting, too, there was a
long ceremony in tho hall, buttoning up
great coats, tying on woolon comforters.dx-
Ing silk handkerchefs over the mouth and
up to tho cars, grasping sturdy walking
canes to support unsteady feet.
Their iifteth anniversary came and death
had indeed been busy.
Four little old mon, Of withcrod appear.
ancc. and dccrepit walk. with cracked vol
ccs, and dim, raylcss eyes, sat down by
tho mercy Of Heaven, (as they themselves
tremulously declared ito celebrate, for the
fihioth time, tho iirst day Of tho year F; to
observe the frolic compact which, half a
century before, they had entered into at
the Star and Garter, as Richmond. Eight
were In their graves! Tho four that ro
NAMED stood upon It's confines. Yot they
chirpod cheerily over their glass, though
they could scarcely carry II to their lips, II
more than half full and cracked their
jokes, though they arliculatod with din.
Guilty, and heard each other with still groa.
ter difficulty. They mumbicd, they chat
ted, they laughed, II a sort Of strangled
Wheeling could DO called a laugh; and
when tho wines sent their Icy blood In
warmer pulses through tholr sveIns, they
talked Of tho past rs II 10 woro but yester-
day that had slipped by them--and Of tho
future rs busy century that llay before
them.
They wcro just tho number ::for quiet
rubber Of whist and for three successive
years they sat down to one. The fourth
came, and their rubber was played with
an open dummy; fiith. and whist was
no longer practicable two could only
play at crlbbage, and cribbagcl was tho
game. But II was little moro than the
mockcry Of play. Their palsicd hands
could scarcely hold, or their faded sight
distinguish tho cards. while thoir torpid
faculties made them doze between zach
deal.
Az longth camo tho last dinner; and the
survivor Of tho twelve, upon whose head
four score and ten winters had showered
their snow, ato his solitary meal. II so
chanccd that II was In his house, and at
bis table, they had celebrated the FIRST In
his cellar, too, had remained, for eight and
fifty years, tho bottle they had uncorked,
rccorkcd, aud which he that day was 10
uncorls again. II stood beside him; with
a fcoblo and reluctant grasp, ho took tho
ffail memorial Of youthful vow, and for
4, moment memory was faithful to her Of
fee. She threw open her long vista Of
buried years; and his heart travelled thro'
them all. Their lusty and blithesome
springtimc, their bright and fervid sum-
mer-their ripe and temperate autumn
their chill, but not too frozen winter. He
saw, as in mirror, how, ono by one, the
laughing companions Of tho merry hour,
at Richmond. had dropped into eternity.
Ho felt all the loneliness Of his condi-
tlon, (for he had eschcwed marriage, and
In tho veins Of no living creature ran q
drop Of blood whose source was In his
own,) and as he drained glass which he
filed ITO tho memory Of those who were
gone" tho tears slowly trickled down the
deep funows Of his aged and care-worn
face.
He had thus fulfilled one part Of his
vow, and prepared himself to discharge
the other, by sitting tho usual number ol
hours at his desolato table. With hca.
w heark he res;opod bip,salf "a tbc r,ioo,,,