Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-28
From the Token for 1850.
THE CAPTAINS LADY.
ny JAMES HALL.


After an absence Of several years from my
native city. had lately the pleasure OF paying
il visit; and having spent few days with my
friends, was sboL, 10 bad adieu, once more to
the eoodly ani QrieI streets OF Philadelphia
The day bad not yet dawned, and stood uem-
bling at the door 0f the Stage office, muffled In
great coat, while the driver was securing my
baggage The streets were sill and tenantiess,
moi even foot seemed to be travelling but my
own Every body slept, gealie and simple; for
sleep is a gentle and simple thing. The watch
men sumbered; and the very lamps seemed 10
have caugot The infectious drowsiDess. l felt
,hat possessed n, that moment . lcrdly pre-
eminence among my fellow citizens: for they
were all torpid, as dead TO consciousness as
swallows in the winter, or mummirs IN caia-
comb | alonchad sense, knowledge, power;
energy The res, were all perdu-shut up, like
The imprisoned genii, who we're bottled away by
Solomon, and cast inro The sea. could release
them from durance, 10 an instant; could dis
charge either uf them fom Imprisonment, or |
could suffer the whole 20 Iemaiu spell bound
until n appointed time for their enlargement.
Every hing slep'; mayer, alderman, and coun
ellis, the civil and the military, learning, and
b. auty, and eloque1cc, porters, dogs, aud drays,
steam engines and patent mac hines, even the
clemens reposed.
If had no. been so cold, could have NOR
aired upon he death like 'orpor rha, rcigped
over the city As II was could not help adj
muing that wonderful regulation Of pa'urc,
which thus periodi ally s"spends the vital pow.
erS &C a whole people. There is nothing so
cheering as he hustle ofa crowd, nothing more
uvtu! than its repose. When We benoid the
IFS, when we notice the vlsI aggregate OF hu
man lie so various!y occupied, widely diff
fused, 80 powerful, and SO 5uoy&n,, sensation
is prl ICED liie that wi h which we gaze AT Tie
ocean when aBi, a,ed by stnrm; seas +
utlFr mad, Qualeness Of human power 70 o'iil
such mass Of troubled particles; but when
sleep strews her poppies, i, Is like the pouring
or oil UpoA the waves.
had hardly time 10 make this remark, when
two figures rapidly approached-iwo oil SOLO
mons genli ESCAPED rom duresse Had not
their ard forms been peaceable and worldly,
could have fancied them pair OF malignant
spirits, coming to invite me 10 meeting OF con-
spirators, or dance Of witches. II was Qua
ktr gentleman, with lady hanging on one arm
and a lantern Oh The other, so that, although ne
carried double, his Jurthens were DO light
AS soon as they reached the spot where stood,
the pedestrian raised his lantern 10 my Face, *
Inspected II earnestly Cor moment. began
10 fear he was a police officer, who, havlns
nj, ked up one candida for the tread mil, was
evking to 6nd her companion. IL was an IN
iu,, suspicion; for worthy Obadiah was only
taking a lecture on p"ysios"omy, and being
satisfied with the honesty nF my hneamen's. he
saiJ-'Pray, friend, would II suit thee TO take
charge Of lady!
VIVA, question. Seldom have my nerves
received so great a.shock. Not that there was
any thing alarming or d,sagfeeab'e in the pro-
3o,iion; 6ul the address was SO sudden, the
inlerroya,ory So direct, the subject matter SO
unexprcled! Take charge OF lady, 9uoth ne:
had been for wears candidate Tor this very
honor. Never was there more wiling snul
on the rourd world had always been ready
To- take charge OF lady but had never been
h,ppv enough u hnd me who was wiling TO
rlate herself under my Protecuon, ana nos,
wnen least suspect ted II, came LAIR volunteer,
wi h The sanction Of parent, 20 throw herself,
as il were in'o my arms! thought oil me Coun,
,rv where the oigS run about ready roas'e ed,
CRYING, tWAo'H eat M? thought, too, oil
Aladdin and his wonderful lamp, and almost
doubted whether ! hal not touched some tabs
m,n. whose virtues had called into my presence
a substantial peTsoni6c ion OF one OF my day
dreams Bat there was Obadiah, OF whose
morality there could be no mistake, and there
WAS the lady's uruk--not an imaginary trunk,
hut most copious and pcnderons receptacle,
re ,dy 10 take its station socially besdemy own
Whit prize for travelling bachelor! lady
ready booked, and bundled up, with her trunk
cked, aud her passage paid! Alas! it is but
for a season--ai,er that, some happier wight
will; take charge Of the lady aod may Jog on
in single Loneliness.
These thoughts passed rapidly through my
mind during pause IN the Quaker's speech,
and, before could frame 4 reply, he continued;
sMy daughter has just heard Of the illnrss Of her
husband, Captain Johnson of the Rifemen, and
wishes 10 gel 10 Baltimore to-day to Join him.
Thu ice has stopped the steamboats,, and she Is
Obliged to so by land
had the grace 10 recover from my FL of alb
.r,c,ion, so far Us to say, in good time, tina, 1T
would offord me pleasure 10 render any service
In nv power to Mrs. Johnson, and did SO with
great sincerity, for every chivalrous feeling of
INV bosom was enlisted in favor OF a lady, young