276 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 
“Prairie hens of a most delicate flavor followed 
after the meats; they were really delicious; they came 
from Illinois, somebody said, and showed the enterprise 
of the landlord of the hotel—so I thought and uttered, 
and my feelings in this matter were entirely appreciated 
by the little group around me. 
“The decasse, as they were announced, excited my 
unbounded astonishment; there they were, in a large 
dish, packed side by side ‘ like newly-married couples,’ 
round as globes, and looking as inviting as ice in 
August. 
“T took one in my plate, turned it over and over, 
and discovered to my horror that the bird had probably 
committed suicide by running its own bill through its 
body, and as I drew it out I ejaculated, 
*“*< Woodcock, as I live!!?” 
‘My bashful friend responded, ‘ Exactly so.’ 
“T helped every body; the birds flew about under 
my administration as if they were alive and mad, and 
there was a general display of the most cheering good 
humor at my beneficent liberality. 
‘Tn the mean time, the two long tables of the hotel 
were deserted, the waiters at them were walking about 
munching bits of bread and other odd ends, piling up 
plates, and ‘clearing off;’ but our little party grew 
more and more merry and happy, wine, delicious and 
old, flowed freely ; course after course followed, and then 
came a thousand varieties of the confectioner’s skill. 
