The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman PotterAdams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
General
The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman Potter
Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Political fiction
upon the locker and soon was in a sound sleep, in which he dreamed
of a thousand or more things that were to take place in honor of him
on the following day.
The Saucy Kate was not long in gaining the commodore's yacht, a
rakish looking schooner of some two hundred tons, whose lofty spars
and middle staysail were seen overtopping the sails of her lesser
companions, like a giant among dwarfs. And although it was past
midnight when Frank Story entered her cabin, he found it filled with
members of the club, who, at the invitation of the commodore, had
left their several yachts, and were making night jubilant over a
table spread with choice wines, of which there was no stint. There
were also massive punch bowls, of chased silver, standing here and
there along the table, and filled with delicious punch, which those
who preferred drank from goblets of silver and gold. Commodore Skim-
merhorn, who sat at the head of the table, was a man of rotund
figure, had a bright, ruddy face, and was frank and easy in his
bearing. When he of the tall figure entered they were discussing a
question of Greek criticism, some of the members of the club being
men of much taste and learning. But this they suspended in order to
hear his report of the strange sloop. And this he commenced to
relate, describing with so much quaint humor the wonderful major he
had found on board, that they were all surprised and astonished. In
truth, not a few proposed going immediately to pay their respects to
him, and learn to what manner of mankind he belonged. But if they
were surprised with the description, they marveled when told that
this major was no less a person than he whom the New York
politicians intended to make such an ado over. However, as the New
York politicians were most known for their folly, and making a hero
now and then was with them a means of getting bread, it was not so
surprising that they chose for a candidate one who would pass
readily for a fool.
The speaker added, that with all the vanity of the man, (and in
conceits he could not be surpassed even by the erudite Dr. Easley,
who contemplated himself the most learned scholar and critic,) he
sometimes spoke such sense as to make the listener mistake him for a
wise man. He next afforded them much diversion by relating what
passed when he informed the major how the squadron had come in
search of him, and were delighted at being first to do him honor.
Every one present entered immediately into the joke they resolved to
carry out on the following day, which was arranged with great
deliberation, lest any part of it should fail of being properly
executed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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