Litchfield enquirer., 1833-03-21
THE Two-BEDDED ROOM.
ON an English paper.


his residence, was one of those whom the
pen of Cowper has so inimitably portrayed :
"Behold the picture Is it like? like whom?
The things that mount the rostrum with a skip,
| And then skip down again; pronounce text;
Cry hem, and reading what they never wrote.
! Just fifteen minutes, huddle up their work,
And with weIl-bred whisper close the seen"
His horses and his hounds shared more
of his solcitude and company, than either
his parishioners or his family enjoyed. He
had been transferred from the academic
purlieus of Oxford, where he had acquired
more of the fashionable accomplishments of
the day, sporting and intrigue, than of clas-
sic lore or sound theology, to the valuable
living which he now held by the gift eff til
tied relative.
His lucrative bcnefce, together with his
hereditary patrimony, and handsome for
tune which he mad received with his wife,
afforded him ample means to follow the
prevailing dispositions of his mind-,o
unite in the inspiring Halloo,' by day,
over mountains and through dales,' and to
join, in the evening, the merry group
His manners, however, were in the highest
order gentlemanly towards strangers, and,
until intimacy tore away the mask, they
wore the most imposing front while to
the poor of his parish he endeared himself,
if not by pastoral visits and spiritual coun-
sci, by literally supplying, whenever re-
quested, their temporal necessities.
An affair Of Importance, of parochial
nature, called for the presence Of the min
lister and his military friend at distance.
The clergyman very politely requested
that the captain would favor him with his
company in his carriage, to which invita-
ton be with something like violence to his
own feelings gave consent.
The morning Of the day on which the
journey was to be commenced, broke forth
with more than usual loneliness. The We
hicle drove up the smoothly travelled path
way, and the two leaders took their seats
on different sides of the carriage.
AS the shades of evening were gather
ing fast around, they reached a small town,
at which they were under the necessity Of
remaining for the night. The coachman
drove 10 the principal inn, where they
alighted. Refreshments having been fur
nished, and cheerfu!ly consumed by the
sharp-appetited guests, the landlord was
summoned by the vociferation of the noisy
bell, and informed of the intention Of his
visitors to become his tenants for the night.
Making low bow, he assured them with
unassumed sincerity, how much he felt
himself honored by their company, and
how gratified he should be in serving them
to the extent of his ability. He regretted,
however, to inform them that his inn did
not afford them any other unengaged ac-
commodation than tD0 beaded ROOM
8 n tUO bedded room y Numbered out the
portly rector and declared he should not
be accommodated in that way. The inn
keeper stood trembling before the guest,
more alarmed at the prospect of losing two
such valuable customers, than at the sud-
den paroxism ofrage in which Mr.. W
had fallen. Captain Arnold noticed his
and feeling for his friend,
mildly desired the inn-keeper to withdraw,
and then in tone and manner perfectly
easy, observed as follows: Mr.. W,
do not disturb yourself on this subject: !
have frequently, in the campaigns in which
have been engaged, been obliged to be
thankful for worse accommodation than this
inn will afford. A blanket and pillow in
this arm chair will serve my purpose
where have no doubt Of sleeping soundly
until the morning; you can therefore oc-
cupy the two bedded room yourself, and
all difficulty on this head will be immedi-
ately removed
This was language ard conduct for which
Mr.. W was not quite prepared, and at
first he felt half ashamed of his own ex-
preston, but presently recovering himself,
he replied, 'No, Captain-I am not to be
beaten after that fashion. We will share
the room between u.s. This was soon a.
greed on, and the rejoiced landlord speed
lily furnished them with guide, who con-
Quoted them to their chamber.
The minister soon disrobed himself, not
withstanding his powerful objection to a
two bedded room. The Captain was not,
however, quite so expeditions; for diff
Guilty had now presented itself to his mind.
His invaria6le habit, before he sought
"Naturs's sweet res,orer, baImy slsep,'
was to read chapter either from the Old
or New Testament, and by solemn prayer
commended himself and family to Him,
whose eyes neither slumber nor sleep
To do so now, would expose him to
charge of pharisaism from his reverend
friend, and not to do so would be to, wound
his own conscience. The conflict was