Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-08-23
SAM WELLER'S QUEST.

The following extract from the Pickwick
papers, gives curious account of Sam
Weller's attempt to discover Miss Arabella
Allen, young lady with whom Mr.. VIM
kle was desperately in love, and who was
spirited away, and concealed by her brother
somewhere near Bristol.
Accordingly, next morning, Sam We'll
Ter issued forth upon his quest, in no way
daunted by the discouraging prospect be-.
fore him. and away he walked, up one
street and down another-we were going
to say up one hill and down another, only
it's all up hill to Clifton-without meeting
any thing or any body that tended to throw
the faintest light upon the matter in hand.
Many were the colloquies into which Sam
entered with grooms who were airing hor-
ses on roads, and nurse.maids who were
airing children in lanes but nothing could
Sam elicit from either the first mentioned
or the last, which bore the slightest refer
ence to the object of his artfully prosecuted
inquiries. There were great many young
ladies in great many houses, the greater
part whereof were shrew dly suspected by
the male and femab domestics to be deep
ly attached to somebody, OF perfectly rea-
dy to become so if opportunity offered.
But as none among these young ladies was
Miss Arabella Allen, the information left
Sam at exactly the old point of wisdom at
which he stood before.
Sam struggled across the Downs against
good high wind wondering whether it
was also necessary to hold your hat on
with both hands in that part of the country
and came to shady by-place, about which
were sprinkled several little villas of quiet
and secluded appearance. Outside sta
BILE door, at the bottom of long black lane
without a thoroughfare, a groom in undress
was trying to pursuade himself that he was
doing something with spade and Wheel
barrow. We may remark, in this place,
that we have scarcely ever seen groom
in his lazy moments, who has not been, to
a greater or less extent, the victim of this
singular delusion.
Sam thought he might as well talk to this
groom as any body else, especially as he
was very tired with walking, and there was
good large stone just opposite the wheel
barrow, so he strolled down the lane, seated
himself on the stone, and opened a CONVEX.
sation with the ease and freedom for which
he was remarkable.
'Mornin', old FRIEND said Sam.
AFTERNOON, you mean, replied the groom
casting a surly look at Sam.
you're very right, old friend said
Sam; Il do mean AFTERNOON. How are
YOU
'Why, don't find myself much the better
for SEEM of you,' replied the ill.tempered
groom.
That's very odd,' said Sam, 'for you
look so uncommon cheerful, and seem al
together so lively, that it does vun's hear
good to see YOU
The surly groom looked surlier still al
this, but not sufficiently so to produce any
effect upon Sam, who Immediately inquir
| ed, with countcnance Of great anxiety
! whether his masters name was not Walk
err
NO, it a'int,' said the groom.
Nor Brown, s'poscP said Sam.
mo, it a'int.'
Nor Villisonr
No, nor that neither said the groom.
'Vell,' replied Sam, 'thcn Pm mistaken
and he has nt the honor of my acquaintanc,
which | thought he had. Don't Wait here
out O. compliment to me- said Sam as thu
groom wheeled in the barrow, and prepar
ed to shut the gate. Ease afore ceremo
ny old boy; Pl excuse YOU
I'D knock your head off for half a crown,
said the suriy groom, boiling one half of tn
gate.
couldn't afford TO have it done on thos
TERMS rejolned Sam. lit 'ud be vurth
| life's board wages, at least, to you, and u
be cheap at that. Make my compliment
indoors. Tell 'em not to wait dinner 70
me, and say they need not mind putin
any by, for it'll be cold long afore / com
in.'
In reply to this, the groom waxing YER
wroth, muttered desire to damage some
body's head but disappeared without Cal
rying it into execution, slamming the doc
upon him, and wholly unheeding Sans a