124 A SOCIAL RULE. 



finding all hands eagerly awaiting my arrival to sit 

 down to a sumptuous banquet. 



I have inaugurated the rule that all birthdays shall 

 be celebrated in this manner ; and, when his birthday 

 comes round, each individual is at liberty to call for 

 the very best that my lockers and the steward's store- 

 room can furnish ; and in this I take credit for some 

 wisdom. I know by experience what the dark cloud 

 is under which we are slowly drifting, and I know 

 that my ingenuity will be fully taxed to pass through 

 it with a cheerful household ; and I know still further, 

 that, whether men live under the Pole Star or under 

 the Equator, they can be made happy if they can be 

 made full ; and furthermore, at some hour of the day, 

 be it twelve or be it six, all men must " dine ; ' for 

 are they not 



" a carnivorous production, 



Requiring meals, — at least one meal a day ? 

 They cannot live, like woodcock, upon suction ; 

 But, like the shark and tiger, must have prey." 



And hence they take kindly to venison and such like 

 things, and they remember with satisfaction the ad- 

 vice of St. Paul to the gentle Timothy, to " use a little 

 wine for the stomach's sake." 



McCormick was not only the subject to be honored 

 on this occasion, but to do honor to himself. He has 

 actually cooked his own dinner, and has done it well. 

 My sailing-master is a very extraordinary person, and 

 there seems to be no end to his accomplishments. 

 Possessing a bright intellect, a good education, and a 

 perfect magazine of nervous energy, he has, while 

 knocking about the world, picked up a smattering of 

 almost every thing known under the sun, from astron- 

 omy to cooking, and from seamanship to gold-digging. 



