veteran's foot slipped before he had proceeded farther than "Mr. President," he fell to the earth with a sort of reel—
"Like shooting stars he fell to rise no more!"
His body made a capital footstool for the luxurious Pepper. Now Augustus Tomlinson and Clifford, exchanging looks, took every possible pains to promote the hilarity of the evening, and before the third hour of morning had sounded, they had the satisfaction of witnessing the effects of their benevolent labours in the prostrate forms of all their companions. Long Ned, naturally more capacious than the rest, succumbed the last.
"As leaves of trees," said the chairman, waving his hand—
"As leaves of trees the race of man is found,
Now fresh with dew, now withering on the ground."
"Well said, my Hector of Highways!" cried Tomlinson, and then helping himself to the wine, while he employed his legs in removing the supine forms of Scarlet Jem and Long Ned, he
