A COLONIAL REPAST.
The family at the Locusts had slept, or watched, through all the
disturbances at the cottage of Birch, in perfect ignorance of their
occurrence. Additional duties had drawn the ladies from their pillows
at an hour somewhat earlier than usual.
Henry Wharton awoke from a sleep in which he had dreamt of suffering
amputation; and Dr. Sitgreaves pronounced that he would be a well man
within a fortnight. Colonel Wellmere did not make his appearance; he
breakfasted in his own room, and the surgeon was free to go to the
bedside of Captain Singleton, where he had watched during the night
without once closing his eyes. Captain Lawton had been received with
many courteous inquiries after the state of his health.
A single horse chaise was seen approaching the gate. Miss Peyton
advanced to receive their guest. She was young, and of a light and
graceful form, but of exquisite proportions. As Dr. Sitgreaves
supported her from the chaise, she turned an expressive look at the
face of the practitioner.
"Your brother is out of danger, and wishes to see you, Miss
Singleton," said the surgeon.
By the time the afternoon sun had travelled a two hours' journey from
the meridian, the formal procession from the kitchen to the parlor
commenced, under the auspices of Caesar, who led the van, supporting a
turkey on the palms of his withered hands with the dexterity of a
balance-master.
Next followed the servant of Captain Lawton, bearing, as he marched
stiffly, a ham of true Virginian flavor, a present from the spinster's
brother in Accomac. The supporter of this savory dish kept his eye on
his trust with military precision; and it might be difficult to say
which contained the most juice, his own mouth or the bacon.
Third in the line was to be seen the valet of Colonel Wellmere, who
carried in either hand chickens fricasseed, and oyster patties.
After him marched the attendant of Dr. Sitgreaves, who instinctively
seized an enormous tureen and followed on in place, until the steams
of the soup so completely bedimmed his glasses that he was compelled
to deposit his freight on the floor, until, by removing them, he could
see his way through the piles of reserved china and plate-warmers.
Next followed another trooper, conveying a pair of roast ducks. The
white boy who belonged to the house brought up the rear, groaning
under a load of sundry dishes of vegetables that the cook, by the way
of climax, had unwittingly heaped on him.
Caesar had no sooner deposited his bird than he turned mechanically on
his heel, and took up his line of march again for the kitchen. In this
evolution the black was imitated by his companions in succession, and
another procession to the parlor followed in the same order. By this
admirable arrangement, whole flocks of pigeons, certain bevies of
quails, shoals of flat-fish, bass, and sundry woodcock, found their
way into the presence of the company.
A third attack brought suitable quantities of potatoes, onions, beets,
cold-slaw, rice, and all the other minutiae[72] of a goodly dinner.
[Footnote 72: little details.]
The board now fairly groaned with American profusion, and Caesar,
glancing his eye over the show with a most approving conscience after
readjusting every dish that had not been placed on the table by his
own hands, proceeded to acquaint the mistress of the revels that his
task was happily accomplished.
Much time and some trouble were expended before the whole party were,
to the joy of Caesar, comfortably seated around the table.
Though the meat and vegetables had made their entrance with perfect
order and propriety, their exeunt[73] was effected much in the manner
of a retreat of militia. The point was to clear the board something
after the fabled practice of the harpies; and by dint of scrambling,
tossing, breaking, and spilling, the remnants of the overflowing
repast disappeared. And now another series of processions commenced,
by virtue of which a goodly display of pastry, with its usual
accompaniments, garnished the table.
[Footnote 73: departure (literally, _they go out_).]