Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-11-16
THE FIRST AND LAST DINNER.
A TALE OF LIFE.

Twelve friends, much about the
same age, and fixed by their pursuits,
their family connections and other To-
cal interests, as permanent inhabi-
tants of the metropolis, agreed one
day when they were drinking their
wine at the Star and Garter at Rich
mond, to institute an annual dinner
among themselves, under the follow
ing regulations: That they should
dine, alternately, at each others
houses on the first and list day of the
wear: and that the first bottle of wine
uncorked. at the first dinner should
be recorked and be put away to be
drunk by him who should be the last
of their number; that they should
never admit new member; that
when one died, eleven should meet,
and when another died, ten should
meet, and so on, and that, when only
one remained, he should, on those two
DAYS dine by himself, and sit the usu-
al hours at his solitary table; but the
first time he so dined 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 ca
eerly embraced. They were all in the
prime of life, closely attached by re-
ciprocal friendship, fond OF social en-
i0yments; and looked forward to their
future meetings with unalloyed anti
cipations of pleasure. The only
thought that could have darkened
those anticipations, was not very like
ly to intrude itself at this moment
that of the hopeless wight who was
destined to uncork the first bottle at
his lonely repast.
It was high summer when this frol-
ic 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 every thing but their first and last
fears of the ensuing years. Their i'm
aginations ran riot with thousand
CAV predictions of festive merriment.
they wantoned in cOnjectures OF what
changes time would make; jOked each
other on their appearance. when they
should .meet-some hobbling on
crutches after q severe fit OF the gout;
OJnerb pOklIS duouV WIN P"ioNs
eyes, which. even spectacles could
hardly enable to distinguish the alder
mans walk or a haunch of venison-
some with portly round bellies and IT,
DIV little brown wigs, and others de-
Gently dressed out ina new suit of
mourning, for the death of a great
grandson or great-grand-daughter:
"As for you, George" exclaimed
one of the twelve addressing his
brother-in-law, II expect l shall see
YOU a. dry, withered, and shrunken as
an old eel skin, you mere outside of a
manp' and he accompanied the words
with hearty slap on the shoulder.
George Fortescue was leaning care
Iessly over the, side of the yacht,
laughing the loudest of any Ut the
conversation that had been carried On.
The sudden manual salutation, OF his
brother.in.law' threw him off his bal
ance, and in moment he was over
board. They heard the heavy splash
of his fall, before they could DE SAID 10
have seen him fall. The yacht was
proceeding swiftly along-but II was
instantly stopped. The utmost con- con-
sternation now prevailed. 1t was
nearly dark, but FOrtescue was known
10 be a good swimmer and startnng
as the accident was, they felt certain
that he wouldiregaint theyessel, They