The Lincoln County herald., 1869-05-27


the dinner BY wsat Of punctaality. I'm.
pressed with this ides, I blushsd ths
deepest crimson - my name was repeat
sdly announced BY the servants who
ushsrsd me into the library, scarcely
knowing what or whom I saw. Al my
entrance / summoned oil ny fortitude
and made ny new learned bow to Lady
BurtCns bat unfortunately bringing bach
my LEFT foot to the third position, l trod
on the gouty toe Of poor Sir Thomas
who had followed close Al my heels 70 b
the nomsnclator Of the family The con-
fusion this oocasicned in me ID hardly Ia
be conceived, since none but bashful men
can judge Of my distress and Of that
description che number, I believe, 10 very
email isdesd. The barouet's. politsnssi
by degrees dissipated my concern and
the cheerfulness Of her ladyship, Joined
to the familiar chat Of the young ladies
and their brothers, insensibly led mo "a
throw Of my reserve and sheepishness,
till at length I ventured to join In COZ.
vcrsstion, and even to start fresh sub.
jects.
The library 10 which ws we're seated,
being richly furnished With hooks 10 ele.
CANT bindings, conceived that Sir
Thomas was . man devoted to literature,
and ventured to give my opinion respect.
classics, 10 which Sir Thomas ideas en-
tiroly coincided with my own. While
talking on this subject, my attention wss
directed to an edition Of Xenophon, in
sixteen volumes, which, - I had never
heard Of such thing, greatly excited
my curiosity, and I rose up 70 examine
what it could be. The baronet saw what
I was about, aud, ~ I supposed willing to
save me trouble, rose to take down the
volumes, which made ne more eager to
prevent him, aud hastily laying my hand
on tho first volume, I pulled It forcibly /;
but 10 | instead Of books, . board, which
by tho bookbiuder's art had been made to
look like sixteen volumes, came tum.
bling down aud unluckily pitched upon
an ink.stand on the table under it. In
vain did Sir Thomas assure me there was
10 harm I saw the ink streaming from
. beautiful inlaid table on the splendid
Turkey carpet, aud, scarce knowing what
I did, attempted to stop its progress with
my white pocket handkerchief. In the
height Of my confusion we were informed
that dinner was served up, and with Joy,
I then understood that the bell which at
first had 90 alarmed my fears was euly
the hall. hour dinner. bell.
In walking through the hall and suit.
of apartments to the dining.room I bad
time partially to collect my scattered
senses, aud was desired to take my seal
between Lady Burton and her eldes,
daughter At the table. Since the fall oil
tho wooden Xenophon my face had been
continually burning like 6rebrand; and
I was just beginning to recover myself
and to feel comfortably cool, when a
unlocked. for accident fekindled all M
heat and blushss.
Having set my plate Of soup too neal
the edge Of the table, in bowing to Miss
Dinah, who politely eomplimsnted me on
the pattern Of my Waistooat, I discharged
the whole scalding contents into my lap.
1u spite of an immediate supply Of nap.
kins to wipe the surface Of my clothes,
my trowsers were not stout enough IA
save mo from the painful effects Of this
sudden fermentation, and for some minutes
my lsgs and thighs seemed slowed in q
boiling caldron. At last, when the pain
began to abatc, I managed to bear Il iu
silence, and sat with my lower extremitiea
parboiled, amidst the stiasd gissling ol
the servants.
I will not inaict upon my readers q
relation Of oil the blunders which I made
during the 6rst course +, Of my spilliag q
sauce boat, upsettinS . salt.csllar, eto.
rather let mo hasten to the second course,
when fresh disasters quito overwhelmed
me. '......, ..-.
I had . piece Of rich sweet pudding on
my fork, when Miss Louisa Burton begged
70 trouble me for . pigeon that stood
near me. In ny haste, scarce knoving
what I did, I whipped tho hot pudding
into my mouth. Il was impossible q
conceal ny agony; my eyes were starting
from their sockets. At last in spite ol
shame and resolution, I was compelled Ia
drop The cause, Of torment on my plate.
Sir Thomas, his sols, and ill ths ladies
ssnpassionatsd my misfortune, and saoh
advised . different application. Ons
rsseomnsudsd oil, another water, but oil
agreed that wine vss best for drawing
out the hest and . glass Of sherry VA
ordered me. The glass VAS sasssly
seised by me oh hOW shall / tell the