"The secretary will read the journal of the last meeting," said President Brandon.
Tracy rose and read a brief report, which was accepted, according to form.
"Is there any business to come before the club?" inquired the president.
"I would like to nominate a friend of mine as a member of the club," said Burgess.
"What's his name?" inquired a member.
"Henry Drayton."
"Will Mr. Burgess give some account of his friend, so that the members can vote intelligently on his election?" requested Brandon.
"He's a jolly sort of fellow, and a good singer," said Brugess. "He'll help make our meetings lively. He's about my age--"
"In his second childhood," suggested Wilmot.
This produced laugh at the expense of Burgess, who took it good-naturedly.
"Has he got five dollars?" inquired another member.
"His father is a rich man," said Burgess. "There will be no fear about his not paying his assessments."
"That's the principal thing," said Wilmot. "I second the nomination."
A vote was taken which was unanimously affirmative.
"Mr. Drayton is unanimously elected a member of the Madison Club," announced the president. "Notification will be duly sent him by the secretary. Is there any other business to come before the club?"
As there appeared to be none, Brandon added, "Then we will proceed to the more agreeable duties which have brought us hither."
He rang a small bell.
Jackson answered the summons.
"Jackson, is the punch ready?" inquired the president.
"Yes, sir," said Jackson.
"Then bring it in. I appoint Wilmot and Burgess to lend you the necessary aid."
A large flagon of hot whiskey punch was brought in and placed on the table. Glasses were produced from a closet in the corner of the room, and it was served out to the members.
"How do you like it, Roswell?" inquired Ralph Graham.
"It's--rather strong," said Roswell, coughing.
"Oh, you'll soon be used to it. The fellows will begin to be jolly after they've drunk a glass or two."
"Do they ever get tight?" whispered Roswell.
"A little lively,--that all."
The effected predicted soon followed.
"Wilmot, give us a song," said Burgess.
"What will you have?" said Wilmot, whose flushed face showed that the punch had begun to affect him.
"Oh, you can give us an air from one of the operas."
"Villikens and his Dinah?" suggested Tracy.
"Very good," said Wilmot.
Wilmot was one of those, who, with no voice or musical ear, are under the delusion that they are admirable singers. He executed the song in his usual style, and as rewarded with vociferous applause, which appeared to gratify him.
"Gentlemen," he said, laying his hand upon his heart, "I am deeply grateful for you kind appreciation of my--"
"Admirable singing," suggested Dunber.
"Of my admirable singing," repeated Wilmot, gravely.
This speech was naturally followed by an outburst of laughter. Wilmot looked around him in grave surprise.
"I don't see what you fellows are laughing at," he said, "unless you're all drunk."
He sat down amid a round of applause, evidently puzzled to understand the effect of his words.
After this, David Green arose, and rehearsed amid great applause a stump speech which he had heard at some minstrel entertainment which he had attended.
"How do you like it, Roswell?" again inquired Ralph Graham.
"It's splendid," said Roswell, enthusiastically.
"Are you glad you joined?"
"Yes; I wouldn't have missed it for a good deal."
"I knew you'd say so. Have your glass filled. Here, Jackson, fill this gentleman's glass."
Roswell was beginning to feel a little light-headed; but the puch had excited him, and he had become in a degree reckless of consequenses. So he made no op- position to the proposal, but held out his glass, which was soon returned to him filled to the brim.
"Speech from the new member!" called Dunbar, after a while.
"Yes, speech, speech!"
All eyes were turned towards Roswell.
"You's better say something," said Ralph.
Roswell rose to his feet, but found it necessary to hold on to his chair for support.
"Mr. President," commenced Roswell, gazing about him in a vacant way, "this is a great occation."
"Of course it is," said Burgess.
"We are assembled to-night--"
"So we are. Bright boy!" said David Green.
"I am a gentlyman's son," continued Roswell.
"What's the gentleman's name?" interrupted Wilmot.
"And I think it's a shame that I should only be paid six dollars a week for my services."
"Bring your employer here, and we'll lynch him," said Tracy. "Such mean treatment of a member of the Madison Club should meet with the severest punishment. Go ahead."
"I don't think I've got anything more to say," said Roswell. "As my head doesn't feel quite right, I'll sit down."
There was a round of applause, and Wilmot arose.
"Mr. President," he said, gravely, "I have been very much impressed with the remarks of the gentleman who has just sat down. They do equal credit to his head and his heart. His reference to his salary was most touching. If you will allow me, I will pause a moment and wipe away an unbidden tear." (Here amid laughter and aplause, Wilmot made an imposing demonstration with a large handkerchief. He then proceeded.) "Excuse my emotion, gentlemen. I merely arose to make the motion that the gentleman should furnish ua a copy of his remarks, that they may be engrossed on parchment, and a copy sent to the principal libraries in Europe and America."
Roswell was hardly in a condition to understand that fun was being made of him, but listened soberly, sipping from time to time from his glass.
"The motion is not in order," said Brandon. "The hour for business has gone by."
The punch was now removed, and cards were produced. The remainder of the evening was spent in playing euchre and other games. Roswell took a hand, but found he was too dizzy to play correctly, and for the remainder of the evening contented himself with looking on. Small sums were staked among some of the players, and thus a taste for gambling was fostered which might hereafter lead to moral shipwreck and ruin.
This was the way in which the members of the Madison Club spent their evenings,--a very poor way, as my young readers will readily acknowledge. I heartily approve of societies organized by young people for debate and mutual improvement. They are oftentimes productive of great good. Some of our distinguished men date their first impulse to improve and advance themselves to their connection with such a society. But the Madison Club had no salutary object in view. It was adapted to inspire a taste for gambling and drinking, and the money spent by the members to sustain it was worse than wasted.
Roswell, however, who would have found nothing to interest or attract him in a Debating Society, was very favorably impressed by what he had seen of the Madison Club. He got an erroneous impression that it was likely to introduce him into the society of gentlemen, and his arostocratic predilections were, as we know, one of Ros- well's hobbies.
It was about eleven when the club broke up its meeting. Previous to this there was a personal difficulty between Wilmot and Tracy, which resulted in a rough- and-tumble fight, in which Wilmot got the worst of it. How the quarrel arose no one could remember,--the principals least of all. At last they were reconciled, and were persuaded to shake hands.
They issued into the street, a noisy throng. Roswell's head ached, the punch, to which he was not accustomed, having affected him in this way. Besides this he felt a little dizzy.
"I wish you'd come home with me, Ralph," he said to his friend. "I don't feel quite right."
"Oh, you'll feel all right tomorrow. Your hear will become as strong as mine after a while. I'm as cool as a cucumber."
"It's rather late, isn't it?" asked Roswell.
"Hark, there's the clock striking. I'll count the strokes. Eleven o'clock!" he siad, after counting. "That isn't very late."
Ralph accompanied Roswell to the door of his mother's house in Clinton Place.
"Good-night, old fellow!" he said, "You'll be all right in the morning."
"Good-night," said Roswell.
He crept up to bed, but his brain was excited by the punch he had drank, and it was only after tossing about for two hours that he at length sank into a troubled sleep.