MAJOR GASDEN’S STORY. 273 
city, and contrary to his usual custom, he launched forth 
in eloquent declamation upon the table of Azs 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. 
“T 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. 
‘““T 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 breakfast, 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 cloth awry. I trembled at the prospect, 
