Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-09

years, was as tall and as straight as thu
rest of them, asked me a great many
questions in the way of guessing ano
reckoning, while Clementina bestirree
herself in preparing and bringing il
the supper.
When it was ready they all sat dowr
without ceremony, & with as little cere
mony invited me to follow their exam
pie. Here was practical illustration
of the blessings Of equality but l was
determined to put up with their inso.
lence for one night. The supper con.
sisted Of loads of meat, ham, venison,
game Of various kinds, in quantities
sufficient to feast an army. began to
sum up the probable amount of my bill,
as ! concluded l should have to pay
for the feasting of the whole family,
and what vas left besides. 'Help your
sell. SAID the old man, 'and don't be a
stranger. I'm sorry we have nothing
better; bat you're heartily welcome,
Nest people are welcome, thought 1,
tor their money, but said nothing.
'We cannot afford tea and coffee,
continued the old man, 'but here is some
old whiskey that hope you will like.
Come, help yourself, and here's to old
Hickory
NV stomach turned at the very
smell of this execrable beverage, but
recollecting the republican custom OF
roasting their particular friends by a
log fire for refusing to drink, l thought
fit 10 help myself,and make as ifI drank.
In this way supper passed off smoothly
enough, and the old man then directed
Clementina to make arrangements for
the night. 'You boys will be obliged
to give up your room to the stranger
and Clementina will make you up one
in the corner here. While this was
doing l amused, or rather perplexed
myself in looking about the room, and
wondering where these people could
procure such luXuries as venison and
wild game. But as the light flashed in
a remote and obscure corner on one
side of the fireplace, was struck with
horror ar seeing three rifles hanging
one below the other upon hooks fixed
in the wall. The whole truth flashed
upon me at once. am in den of
banditti, thought I, and my moments
are numbered. They will murder me
tonight, andinone willknow my wretch
ed fate. The old man will lay out all
my money tomorrow in whiskey; the
boys will go counting in my new gig,
dressed in my dandy coats, and Glenn
entina will figure in my patent corsettes.
burst into tears at the awful anticipa-
ton.
'What ails you?' said the old man.
MAY be he has got the stomach-ach,'
quoth the old bag, who now began to
look just like one of the great un-
known's remarkable old women.
"Take little more whiskey,' said
Clementina, with look of diabolical
tenderness.
At first l was going to reject it
with infinite contempt, but on second
thoughts, and considering what l had
to go through that night, | determined
to fortify myself with Dutch courage
after the manner of the Yankees, and
if l must die, die like the immortal
Caesar, with decency.
your bed is got ready said Clemen-
tina, but | determined to sit up and de-
fer my fate as long as possible. They
now began to yawn and one alter the
other retired, wishing me good night
until decency obliged me to follow their
example. My room opened directly
from that in which we were sitting,
and where the two boys were to sleep,
no doubt as felt assured, to be han
dy for numbering me. retired to
my room, the door ofwhich | attempt
ed to fasten, but there was nothing but
a latch. looked at the sheets, but
they were white as snow, Clementina
having, as l concluded, taken the pre-
caution to pick out a pair that was not
stained with blood, so as not to alarm
me. I, looked under the bed, and dis
covered something that greatly resem-
bled trapdoor, with leathern hinges.
This discovery overset me entirely.
paced my room to and fro, and lis
tened in breathless anxiety to every
sound. fla mouse stirred, my heart
leapt into my throat. heard the owl
and theWhippoorwill, those ill-omened
birds screeching and Tapping their
wings at my windows and mingllng
their sbrill warnings with the distant
howlings of half famished wolves.
was determined not to lie down, Tor
fear of going to sleep, and at length to
while away the time, took up the 5Sth
No of the Quarterly; but this only adj
ded to my boding apprehensions. AS
l read of the biting, and gouglng,
bundling, drinking and roasting alive
on red hot coals-of ten dollars being
the price of mans life in this coun-
try, and of all the diabolical horrors OF
turbulent democracy, my spirit iaiieo