CHAPTER XLVI.. A Mournful Procession.

A MOURNFUL PROCESSION.

I was sitting before my comfortable library fire in midwinter, 1854, and had been reflecting upon the mutability of human affairs generally, and the uncertainty of Shanghae-ism more particularly, when I finally dropped into a gentle slumber in my easy-chair, where I dozed away an hour, and dreamed.

My thoughts took a very curious turn. I fancied myself sitting before a large window that opened into a broad public street, in which I suddenly discovered a multitude of people moving actively about; and I thought it was some gala-day in the city, for the throng appeared to be excited and anxious. "The people" were evidently abroad; and the crowds finally packed themselves along the sidewalks, leaving the wide street open and clear; and I could overhear the words "They're coming!" "Here they are!"

I looked out, and beheld an immense gathering of human beings approaching in a line that stretched away as far as the eye could reach,--a dense mass of moving mortality, that soon arrived, and passed the window, beneath me. I was alone in the room, and could ask no questions. I could only see what occurred before me; and I noted down, as they passed by, this motley PROCESSION, which moved in the following

=Order of March.=

ESCORT OF INDESCRIBABLES.

Hatless Aid. [Chief Marshal in Black.] Bootless Aid.

Police. TWO EX-MORMONS IN WHITE TUNICS. Police.

Calathumpian Band.

Whig {The "Know Nothing Guards," with guns} Democrat Office-holders. { enough for all useful purposes. } Expectants.

THE "INS." [COLLECTOR AND POSTMASTER.] THE "OUTS."

U.S. {The "National" Democracy, two deep,} U.S. Dist. Marshal. { in one section. } Att'y.

BANNER. Motto--"We know of BURNS that Russia Salve can't cure."

"Aids to the Revenue." [MARSHAL.] Drawbacks on the Revenue.

Kaleb Krushing. [THE MAN WHO FAINTED IN MEXICO.] Jorge ah! Poll.

"Fanny Fern," Flanked by a company of disappointed Publishers, twenty-four deep, in twelve sections.

BANNER. Motto.--"She's a brick!"

Aids. [MARSHAL.] Aids.

President of the "N.E. Mutual Admiration" Hen Society.

Fat Marshal. [THE GREAT SHOW MAN.] Lean Marshal.

BAND, playing the "Rogue's March."

Marshal. GHOST OF JOICE HETH. Marshal.

Aids, {A Fejee Mermaid, astride} Aids, of Quaking Shakers. { the Woolly Horse. } The Happy Family.

Aids, { Invited Guests. } and Their readers { The Three Historians, } "admirers." { BURNHAM, PRESCOT, and BANCRAFT. }

Escort in the rear, with charged bayonets.

Police. { A genuine "COCHIN-CHINA" Rooster, } Police. {succeeded by the man who knew him to be such!}

Marshal. {The entire United States American National } Marshal. Pea Wilder. {Agricultural Society, in a one-horse buggy.} w. ESS king.

BANNER.--Motto: "Ourselves and those who vote for us."

Aid, {An ex-U.S. Navy Agent who left that office } Aid, Naval store {without having made money out of his place!} U.S. Keeper. { BANNER.--Motto: "Poor, but honest." }Sub-Treasurer.

{ The Mass. Hort. Improvement Society, } One hundred and {en masse, with several full bands of} Twenty-five twenty-five {music, on "seedling" accompaniments, } hundred and Marshals. {etc. } one gold-medal { BANNER. } seekers { Motto: "Cuss the Concord Grape." }

No { The man who voluntarily gave up his office under the } No Aids. { National government, solus, on horseback, with } friends. { BANNER.--Motto: "Few die, and none resign." }

{ "THE YOUNG 'UN," } The defunct { in his own barouche, drawn by four "superb } His New England { dapple-grey Shanghaes." } vanquished Hen Society. { BANNER.--Motto: }MUSIC.{ BANNER.--Motto: }Competitors. {"Who's afraid?"} {"Not this child!"}

Police. { HEN MEN WHO HAD MISTAKEN THEIR CALLING, } Police. {twenty-eight deep, in four hundred sections.}

Aids, { GRAIN MEN, with their bills, } Aids, 24 Constables { in seventy sections, } All in a row. { sixty-four deep. }

BAND, playing "Hope told a flattering tale."

{ The great-grandson of the man who set } Tree-venders { out an orchard of dwarf Pear-trees } with thumbs and { (in a barouche). He was 102 years } on their Horticulturists, { old, and believed he should see fruit } noses. { on those same trees "next season"! }

Pall Bearers. [ HIS COFFIN, BEHIND. ] Heirs to his estate.

Aids, { BELIEVERS THAT COCHITUATE WATER IS } Aids, 12 Respectable { WHOLESOME (in a chaise) } Board of Physicians. { } Commissioners.

15 { Chicken Fanciers who didn't buy their eggs } 15 Marshals. { of me, and who expected they would hatch! } Marshals. { (Four thousand strong.) }

Aids, { A body of Express Agents, who never shook up } Aids, the { the eggs intrusted to them (though they } the Conductors. { occasionally shook down their employers). } Brakemen.

BAND.--Air: "O, I never will deceive you!"

Flanked by { "My friend THE PRESIDENT," } and the the Subscribers { In the carriage presented to him } "mourners" who for that { by "the people," drawn by that } didn't obtain "Double Harness," { "superb pair of $1500 horses" } fat offices. { which we read of in the papers. }

Motto: { } Motto: "I'll see you in the Fall." { BANNERS. } "Save me from my friends!"

Full Band.

{ The Hatch Grey Shanghae Express Co., } Aid, { with the latest news from Nantucket } Aid, BRASS & CO. { and "Marm Hackett's Garden." } THE "COLONEL." { Motto: "IMPORTANT, IF TRUE!" }

Aid, { Holders of Second Mortgage R.R. Bonds, } Aid, Two { 24 deep, in 2400 sections. } One Presidents. { BANNER. } Treasurer. { Motto: "There's a good time coming." }

Aids, { The owner of the first "Brahma Pootra" } Aids, 5 Regular { fowls in America, with a map of India } Faculty of Doctors. { on the seat of his pantaloons. } Ripum College.

Aid { The original members of the } Aid, Lucy Brick { "WOMEN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION." } Abby Fulsome. { BAND.--Air: "Why don't the men propose?" }

Aids, { The "wreck of Burnham's character" } Aids, The First { caused by the powerful newspaper } The "Porte-Monnaie Premium Fowls { assaults of one } I owe 'em { THE BEE MINUR, A.SS. } Company."

BANNER.--Motto: "Don't he feel bad!"

No { The Poultry Fancier who had found out the exact } Too far aid for { difference between a "Cochin-China" and a } gone! him! { "Shanghae." }

Unpaid { Delinquent subscribers to northern } Disappointed Compositors. { Farmers, twelve deep, and three } "Press Gang." { miles long! }

Marshal. { The "editor," suffering } Marshal. { from a severe attack of roup. }

{ Dr. Bangit, } DAVID. { with the unsold copies of his Poultry-Book, } GOLIAH. { in a huge baggage-wagon, drawn by 14 horses. }

{ A battalion of victims to the Hen Fever, who } Aids, Aids, { had bought eggs that "didn't hatch" and who } 15 friends 15 Sisters { were waiting patiently to have their money } to the of Charity. { returned! } Insane { } Poor.

Marshal { My legal friend (on a mule) who promised } Jail Keeper and { to spend a thousand dollars in prosecuting } and 4 Deputy { me for selling him Shanghae eggs for } Constables. Sheriff. { Cochin-Chinas! }

Aid, { Fat Johnny Jiles, with the head of a pure } Aid, Barnam. { "Black Spanish" crower on a salver. } Burnum.

{ The men who didn't take the first premiums } Marshals. { (when I was round) at the Poultry-Shows } Marshals. { (in deep mourning). }

Aids, A { The political remains of Frank Pierce, } Aids, "Cabinet" of { in a toy wheelbarrow, with BANNER, } His own Curiosities. { on a "sharp stick." Motto: "Veto." } Opinions!

Aid, { Victims who purchased Minor's } Aid, Editor of the { "Patent Cross-grained Collateral } GEN. BANGIT, Northum { Beehives," with Motto: } of the "Nauvoo Farmer. { "Burned child dreads the fire." } Legion."

Aids, { Customers for "Ozier Willow," } Aids, The Sellers. { in two sections, one man deep. } The Victims. { BANNER.--Motto: "I rather guess not!" }

Marshals { A huge concourse of "Copper Stock" and } Marshals. { "Agewuth Land" owners, in deep sables. }

FULL BAND.--Air: Dead March.

BANNER.--Motto: "You're sure to win--if you don't lose!"

==> A smooth-skinned pure "Suffolk" Pig, imported. <==

Twenty-four Sewing Machines, "warranted."

Aid, { President of the "PORTE-MONNAIE I OWE 'EM } Aid, Secretary. { COMPANY," as Richard III. on horseback. } Treasurer.

Nine "Bother'em Pootrums," rampant.

The few { The identical lot of "pure-bred" fowls that } The unlucky { Bangit, Plarsterd, Minor, Humm & Co., } Believers Buyers. { imported (over the left) "for the Southern } in this { market," in 1853! } story!

The Hen that lays two eggs a day!

Treasurer of the "Mut. Adm'n Society."

Defunct Hucksters, in a tip-cart.

Four empty Hen-Coops, on wheels.

==> Breeders of pure Alderney cattle! <== who furnish Pedigrees with long tails.

An effigy of the LAST MAN that will buy Shanghae chickens (in a strait-jacket).

Police { Purchasers of Live Stock who bought of my competitors; } Sheriff and { with BANNER. } and Aids. { Motto: "We got more than we bargained for!" } posse.

The Hen-Men who "pity Poor Burnham."

MY OWN CASH CUSTOMERS, 10,000 strong!

CAVALCADE.

"THE PEOPLE," MUSIC, And the rest of Mankind, etc.

The scene was closing! That immense concourse of humbugs and humbugged had passed on, and I was alone once more. But, a moment afterwards, I saw the head and face of a comical and good-humored looking Yankee (just beneath the window), who was in the act of puffing into the air a huge budget of bubbles, that danced and floated in the atmosphere for a brief moment, and which, bursting, suddenly awoke me. Here is a sketch of the finale.