There I had to sit a full three quarters of an hour at least, before my longing appetite was appeased. _Regaled_ it was not,--unless a cold mutton chop which retained the flavor of the wool, and a cup of decoction compounded by the rule of three grains of coffee to a gallon of water--can be said to constitute the highest felicity of eating. I arose from the table and _descended a few more rounds on my gilded ladder of hope_. What was I to do? The rain continued to fall in such torrents that Neptune himself could not have surpassed them, had he held his throne in the clouds. Cato had informed me the over night that there was no drawing room--and I was cold--my limbs were shivering. I resolved to visit the subterranean regions of the bar room and post office. There, to my unutterable grief, I found groups of individuals gathered together in such motley disorder, and withal forming so complete a blockade to every avenue approaching the fire--that I stood like a statue of despair. A cluster on my right were discoursing in grandiloquent style on the recent discoveries in the moon--another on my left were discussing the attempted assassination of the King of the French--a third were denouncing the whole army of abolitionists and lamenting that Tappan and Thompson did not find it convenient to visit the White Sulphur Springs--a fourth were denouncing the vengeance of Judge Lynch against the _Chevaliers D'Industrie_--anglicè black legs,--a fifth were pouring a volley of exterminating epithets upon the head of Amos Kendall and the Little Magician; and a sixth, did not even spare his majesty King Calwell himself and his minister of the home department, for putting them in _Fly Row_ to be devoured by those _cantackerous_[1] vermin, the fleas. I forgot that there was a seventh circle standing near Mr. Plumb's cabinet--who were very intently engaged at the early hour of ten--not in discussing domestic or foreign politics--lunar discoveries or abolition--but with all the ardor which distinguished the disputants on those several topics, were trying experiments upon a quart glass of genuine ice-crowned mint julep; and judging from the rapid fall of the fluid in the vessel which contained it, I thought that their experiments were likely to prove very successful. Unhappy me, that I was unable to participate in any of these conversational or bibaceous enjoyments! "I will not despair," thought I to myself, as between the hours of eleven and twelve the elements had ceased their strife, and a few spots of azure were already visible in the clouded vault. Presently the monarch of day himself peeped out from behind the black curtain which had hidden his shining countenance. I looked out and saw multitudes hastening to the Spring. This, said I, is the grand climacteric of my happiness!--now will I revel in the joys of that ambrosial fount which will console me for the sorrows of disappointment. The statue of the Nymph Hygeia[2] which surmounted the