candle, a stack of clay pipes, a jug of punch,
lemons, sugar, Holland gin, etc., while on the hearth sat a kettle of
boiling water to help replenish the jug, if needful.

On his left hand stood his cozy bedstead, with its warm crimson curtains
festooned back, revealing the luxurious swell of the full feather bed
and pillows, with their snow-white linen and lamb's-wool blankets,
inviting repose. Between this bedstead and the corner of the fireplace
stood Old Hurricane's ancient body servant Wool, engaged in warming a
crimson cloth nightcap.

"Fools!" muttered Old Hurricane, over his punch--"jacks! they'll all get
the pleurisy except those that get drunk! Did they all go, Wool?"

"Ebery man, 'oman and chile, sar!--'cept 'tis me and coachman, sar!"

"More fools they! And I shouldn't wonder if you, you old scarecrow,
didn't want to go too!"

"No, Marse----"

"I know better, sir! Don't contradict me! Well, as soon as I'm in bed,
and that won't be long now, you may go--so that you get back in time to
wait on me to-morrow morning."

"Thanky, marse."

"Hold your tongue! You're as big a fool as the rest."

"I take this," said Old Hurricane, as he sipped his punch and smacked
his lips--"I take this to be the very quintessence of human
enjoyment--sitting here in my soft, warm chair before the fire, toasting
my legs, sipping my punch, listening on the one hand to the storm
without and glancing on the other hand at my comfortable bed waiting
there to receive my sleepy head. If there is anything better than this
in this world I wish somebody would let me know it."

"It's all werry comformable indeed, marse," said the obsequious Wool.

"I wonder, now, if there is anything on the face of the earth that would
tempt me to leave my cozy fireside and go abroad to-night? I wonder how
large a promise of pleasure or profit or glory it would take now?"

"Much as ebber Congress itse'f could give, if it give you a penance for
all your sarvins," suggested Wool.

"Yes, and more; for I wouldn't leave my home comforts to-night to insure
not only the pension but the thanks of Congress!" said the old man,
replenishing his glass with steaming punch and drinking it off
leisurely.

The clock struck eleven. The old man again replenished his glass, and,
while sipping its contents, said:

"You may fill the warming-pan and warm my bed, Wool. The fumes of this
fragrant punch are beginning to rise to my head and make me sleepy."

The servan