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THE HERALDIS PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY SI OR XING,BY J. C. D. DOUGLASS,[Publishers of the Laws of the Untied Stales,]3d story, N. E. corner of Market and Bridge sfs.iFrom the Knickerbocker for January.THE DINNER OF THE MONTHS.Once upon a time, the Months determined to dine together. They were a long while deciding who should have the honor of being the host upon so solemn an occasion, but the lot at length fell upon December; Jor, although the old gentleman’s manners were found to be rather cold, upon first acquaintance, yet it was well known that when once you got under his roof, there was not a merrier or moie hospitable person in existence. The messenger, too, Christmas Day, whom he sent round with his cards of invitation, won the hearts of all; although ho played several mad pranks, and received many a box in return. February begged to be excused coming to the dinner, as she was Jo very bad spirits, on account of the loss of her youngest child, the twenty-ninth, who had lately left her, and was not expected to return for four years. Her objection, however, was overruled; and beingseated at table between the smil'iv* Mu*« m'and that tncriy old follow October, she appeared to enjoy the evening’s entertainment as much as any of tbe company.The dinner was a superb one, all the company havingcontributod tnfurnh-b out. the table. January thought, for the f'iir-ticth time, what he should give, a ml inen■ y •determined to give a c alf's head. February, not being a very productive month, was also a little puzzled; but at length resolved to contribute an enormous cake, which she managed to manufacture in fine style, with the assistance of her servant, Valentine, who was an excellent fellow at that sort of ware, but especially at bride cake. Marc!) and April agreed to furnish all the fish; May to decorate the dishes with flowers; June to supply plenty of cx-i»»iclt;rrcca*J1v1aoh4LCToiiUent cider; July and August to presentthe dessert; September a magnificent course of all sorls of game, excepting0 7 Ipheasants; which exception was supplied by October, as well as a couple ofhampers of fine home-brewed ale: and Novemberjengaged that there should be an a bund ;nce* 'Zof ice. The rest of the eatables, and all the wine, were provided by the worthy host himself.Just before sitting down to table, aO 7squabble arose about precedence—some of the company insisting that the first in rank was January, and some that it was March. The host, however, decided in favor of January, whom he placed in the seat of honor, at hisrigli! hand. November, a prim, blue-nosed old maid, s it at his left; and June, a pleasant, good tempered fellow, although occasionally rather too warm, sat opposite him, at the end of the table.The dinner was admirably served.— Christmas Day was the principle waiter; but the host had been obliged to beg the attendance of some of his guests’ servants, and accordingly, Twelfth-night, Shrove Tuesday, nnd Michaelmas Day, officiated in various departments: though Shrove Tuesday was speedily turned out, for making rather too free with a prim, demure servant maid, called Good Friday, while she was toasting some buns for the lea table.A short, squab little fi llow, called St. Thomas’s Day, stood behind December’s chair, and officiated as toast-master; andmuch merriment was excited by the contrast between the diminutive appearance ot this man, and the longest day, who stood behind June, at the other end of the table. Pon}* Master Thomas, however, was a very useful fellow;and beside performing the high official duty which we have mentioned,lie was looking very anxiously out of the window, to discover if there were any starsvisible, October, at the suggestion of May, asked him if he thought of borrowing Charles's wain to carry Inin, as he had done so great a kindness to its proprietor? This put the old fellow into such a passion, that he hastily seized bis head gear, a re d cap, sallied out through the rain, and would most likely have broken his neck in the dark, had not February sent her footman, Candlemas Day, after him with a lantern, by whom he was guided in safety to his lodgings in Fog Alley.On the retirement of the ladies, February, May, August, and November, the host proposed their healths, which were drunk with the usual honors; when April, being a soft-spoken youth, and ambitious of distinction as an orator, began to return thanks for them, in a very flowery speech, but was soon coughed down by December and March; and March, by the by, at length got into such high favor with his old enemy, July, that the latter was heard to give h;man invitation, saying, that if ever he came to his side of the zodiac, he should be most happy to see him. October told the best that, with his leave, he would drink no more wine, but that he should be glad of some good home-brewed, and a p p;*. To this December acceded, and sa.d he should be happy to join him, andlie thought his friend March would do theMirch having nodded assent, theys- t to, and a pretty pvjjtng end blowingthey made. April, however, continued to drink Madeira, while June, July and Sep-! iLiitv ftuck with exemplary constancy (o b the IJiirgundy. rAfter repealed summonses to the drawing-room, they joined the ladies at the tea table. November drew herself up, and affected to bo quite overpowered by the smell ofsrnoke, which March, Octoberand December had brought in with them; although it was well known that the old lady herself could blow a cloud as well os any oft hem. August, a grave, stately matron , o f e x t n i o r d i n a r y b e a u t y, a 11 h o u g h p e r-haps vr, penpassce, officiated as tca-makcr. Good Friday, who by this time hnd recovered the fright into which Shrove Tuesday had thrown her, handed about the toasted buns; and Swithin, a servant of July, was employed to keep the tea-pot supplied with water, which he too often did to overflowing.Tea being over, the old folks went to cards, and the young ones, including Oc-’ w vlr * Otoiler, who managed to hide his years very successfully, to the piano-forte. May was the primn donna, and delighted every one, especially poor April, who was alternately smiles and tears during the whole of her performance. October gave them a hunting song, which caused even the card tables to be deserted, and August sang a sweet, melancholy canzonet, which was rapturously encored.At Iongtli, Candlemas Dnv having re-*— * » oturned from seeing old January home, his mistress, February, look leave of the company. April, who was a little the worsefor the wine he had drunk, insisted ones-/corting November, although she had several servants in waiting, and her road was in an opposite direction to his own. May went away in her own carriage, and undertook to set June down, who lived very near her. The road was hilly and steep, but her coachman, Ascension Day, got the horses very well to the top; and July and August both walked borne, each preceded by a day-day, wish a lighted torch. September and October, who were next-door neighbors, went nwav in the same hackney-coach; and March departed as he came, on the back of a rough Shetlandcalt;hiC(i!TrearthInarislwiansoofed u n Atuotinwewathedelt;hisndirerU_Hisedhacastroshermetill!enthea lrcmaaftcnotwaslammeRoWidov
Newspaper Details
Logansport Herald
Logansport, Indiana, US
Thu, Feb 07, 1839
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
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USA 04 Apr 2023
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