MAJOR GASDEN's STORY. 273 



city, and contrary to his usual custom, he launched forth 

 in eloquent declamation upon the table of his host, drew 

 pictures of luxuries that threw my most sanguine antici- 

 pations of good living into the shade, and caused me to 

 look forward with an interest to the gratification of my 

 palate that I had never before indulged in. 



" I landed on the ' levee ' of New Orleans in the mid- 

 dle of the morning ; although it was early spring, a glo- 

 rious sun, such as Pomona loves, was making every thing 

 look gay; the swollen Mississippi dashed a few waves 

 over the artificial barrier that confined it to its channel, 

 and as they crowded along in little rivulets, they spar- 

 kled like molten silver and gold, indicative, as we thought, 

 of the wealth which was borne upon its waters, and 

 paid tribute to the city. 



" I need not say where I ate my first dinner in New 

 Orleans. The dining hall was a long one and the diners 

 numerous. I made my entrance after the soup dishes 

 had done their office, and was, of course, a little late. 



* It might have been the exercise, or excitement, 

 or a hastily-eaten breakfiist, that made me feel in the 

 spirit of enjoying a good dinner, for I was unusually 

 disposed that way; and looked down the long tables, 

 crowded to excess, with great concern, for fear there 

 would be no room for me, until that melancholy time, 

 when gravies cool into water and globules of fat, and 

 meats are just as warm as when alive ; the cruets half 

 filled, and the clotli awrv. I trembled at the prospect, 



