a gentleman, in a melee, '_stubbed
his toe and fell_!' There would have been Mr. Breckinridge, in a
canopied seat at the head of one of the tables, rapping the Senate
to order with his knife-handle, and Mr. Orr at the head of the
other, uncovering an immense tureen, with the remark that '_the
House will now proceed to business_!' How strange it would be to
hear any angry debate at such a time! Imagine a Congressman helping
himself to a batter-cake and at the same time calling his
brother-member a liar! or throwing down his napkin, by way of
challenge to '_the gentleman on the opposite side of the table_!'
Think of Keitt politely handing Grow the cream-pitcher, and
attempting to knock him down before the meal was dispatched. Had
the discussion of the Lecompton Constitution been carried on
simultaneously with that of a couple of dozen roast turkeys, I
sometimes think we might have avoided this war.

Not only in public but in private rejoicings, is the table the
scene of chief enjoyment. When was it that the fatted calf was
killed? On what occasion was the water turned into wine? What
better way to rejoice over the return of a long-absent one than to
meet him around the hospitable table? Ye gods! let your mouths
water! There's a feast ahead for our brave soldiers, when they come
home from this war, that will make your tables look beggarly. I
refer to that auspicious moment when the patriot now baring his
bosom to the bloody brunt of war, shall sit down once more to the
table, in his own dear home, however humble, and partake of the
cheerful meal in peace, with his wife and his little ones about
him. Oh! for the luxury of that first meal! I almost feel as if I
could endure the hardships of the fierce campaign that precedes it.

There is no memory so pleasant to me as that of the annual reuenion
of my aunts and uncles, with their respective troops of cousins, at
the house of my dear grandmother of blessed memory. It was pleasant
to watch the conveyances one by one coming in, laden with friends
who had traveled many a weary mile to be present on the great
occasion. It was pleasant to witness the mutual recognitions of
brothers and sisters with their respective wives and husbands; to
observe the transports of the little fellows, in their hearty
gre