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Iv.] : THE WITCHES’ ISLAND. 22r

 

with the good things of this world in great abundance.
Fish, meat, pastry, cheese ; all were there in sufficient
quantity to have feasted a regiment. Flowers and
fruit were scattered in profusion all over the table,
gay festoons of the former hung from the branches of
the surrounding trees, and flags were streaming in the
air on every side. All around the table were chairs,
placed for those who had the honour of partaking of
that feast, and in those chairs were seated some dozen
or more ladies, dressed in different costumes, and
apparently bent on enjoying themselves as much as
possible. They were waited upon by such waiters as
Molly had never before seen or heard of as acting in
that capacity. A number of cats, each in livery, ran
nimbly round the table upon. their hind legs, handing
the dishes and offering them to each guest with re-
spectful alacrity. Each cat had a napkin in its paw,
and was in every respect dressed as a footman should
be. One, larger and fatter than the rest, evidently
acted as butler. He was a great tom cat, who bore
himself in a manner entirely corresponding with the
high dignity to which he had attained, and confined
himself principally to helping the guests to wine,
which he did continually and with much regularity.
But the most extraordinary thing of all has yet to
be related. Seated in alarge arm-chair at. the head of
the table was a real and veritable Donkey. Yes: from
head to tail, feet, ears, skin, everything was undoubtedly
real about him, and there the animal was seated as
comfortably as possible. More than this, however, he
appeared to be the object of general attraction on
the part of the ladies present. Not only did those