nd drank wine. Then they
ate jellies, blanc mange, and ice-cream. Then they ate nuts and fruit,
and drank coffee. Then every thing was removed, and fresh decanters,
fresh glasses, and a box of cigars were placed upon the table, and the
servants were told that they need not come until summoned.

At this point a dry, grave, thin, little old man opened the door. General
Belch rose and rushed forward.

"My dear Mr. Bat, I am very happy. Sit here, Sir. Gentlemen, you all know
Mr. Bat."

The company was silent for a moment, and bowed. Abel looked up and saw a
man who seemed to be made of parchment, and his complexion, of the hue of
dried apples, suggested that he was usually kept in a warm green satchel.

After a little more murmuring of talk around the table, General Belch
said, in a louder voice,

"Gentlemen, we have a new friend among us, and a little business to
settle to-night. Suppose we talk it over."

There was a general filling of glasses and a hum of assent.

"I learn," said the General, whiffing the smoke from his mouth, "that
our worthy friend and able representative, Watkins Bodley, is about
resigning, in consequence of private embarrassments. Of course he must
have a successor."

Every body poured out smoke and looked at the speaker, except Mr. Bat,
who seemed to be undergoing a little more drying up, and looked at a
picture of General Jackson, which hung upon the wall.

"That successor, I need not say, of course," continued General Belch,
"must be a good man and a faithful adherent of the party. He must be the
consistent enemy of a purse-proud aristocracy."

"He must, indeed," said Mr. Enos Slugby, whisking a little of the ash
from his cigar off an embroidered shirt-bosom, in doing which the flash
from a diamond ring upon his finger dazzled Abel, who had turned as he
spoke.

"He must espouse the immortal cause of popular rights, and be willing to
spend and be spent for the people."

"That's it," said Mr. William Condor, whose sinecure under government was
not worth less than twenty thousand a year.

"He must always uphold the honor of the glorious flag of our country."

"Excuse me, General Belch, but I can not control my feelings; I must
propose three cheers," interrupted Alderman MacDennis O'Rourke; and the
three cheers were heartily given.

"And this candidate must be equally the foe of class legislation and the
friend of State rights."

Here Mr. Bat moved his head, as if he were assenting