The native American., 1838-07-21
From Charcoal Stei'hes, by Joseph c. Neaie.
RIPTON RUMSEY.
A TALE OF THE WATERS


They who are at all mindful of atmospheric
phenomena, must remember storm, remarkable
for its violence, which occurred not long since.
1t was storm by night, and of those abroad at
the time, ,every one ayerse to the shower BATH
and having feline dislike to wet feet, will bear it
in mind, at least until the impression is washed
out by the floods Of greater tempest In the
evening, the rain, as if exercising itself for
important feats, fell gently and at intervals; but
as the night advanced, the wind came forth intent
upon frolic. Commencing with playful gam
bols, it amused itself at first with blowing out the
old women's candles at the apple stands. Then
growing bolder, it extingushed few corporation
lamps, and, like mischievous boy, made free to
snatch the hats of the unguarded, and to whisk
them through mud and kennel. AT length be-
coming wild by indulgence, it made terrible
turmoil through the streets, without the slightest
regard to municipal regulations to the contrary.
1t went whooping at the top of its voice round
the corners, whisted shrilly through the key
holes, and howled in dismal tones about the Chin
ney tops. Here, it started the negligent house.
wife from her slumbers by samming the unbolted
shutter till it roared like peal of artillery; and
there, it tossed rusty sign until its ancient hinges
creaked for mercy; while at intervals, the heavy
tumble Of scantling told that when Auster chooses
to kick up breeze, he is very nearly as good at
a practical joke as Boreas, or any other froick-
some member Of the Eolian family. The clouds
too threw open their sluces, and the water joined
in the saturnalia, hied variety Of ways to amuse
itself, and its capers were numerous as those
of the gale. II beat the tattoo upon the pave
ment with such sportve fury, that it was difficult
to decide whether it did not rain upward as vio-
lently as it did downward. Anon the breeze came
sweeping along in horizontal shower, disdain-
ing alike the laws Of gravity, and the perpenaicu
lar, but more hackneyed method Of accomplish-
ing its object In short, whether reference be had
to wind or to water, it may be noted in the Jour
nails of those curious in regard To weather, as a
night equally calculated to puzzle an umbrella,
and to render "every man his owp washerwo-
man. s1's
Selecting single incident from the many,
which il is natural to suppose might have been
found by the aid OF a diving bell on such night,
il becomes necessary to fish up itlpton Rumsey,
who happened to be abroad on that occasion, as
he is upon all occasions when left to consult his
own wishes Where Ripton had been in the
early part Of the evening, it would not have been
easy either for himself or any one else to tell II
is, therefore, fair to infer that, distributing his at
tentions, he had been as usual "about in spots"
The fact is he has hobby, which, like many hob
bies, is apt to throw its rider Although tempe
rately disposed such is the inquiring nature Of
his philosophc spirit, that, with a view perhaps
to tile ultimate benefit Of the human race, he is
continually experimenting as to the effects Of alco
holic stmulants upon the human frame. II is
probable, therefore, that ON this occasion having
t.imbbed too much OF the enemy neat as inl
ported, he had walked forth TO qualify il by a
stroll in the rain. This, however, is irrelevant;
where he was, is the point at issue.
The rain came down heavier than ever. A
solitary watchman, more amphibous than his race
in general, was seen vending his way through
the puddles thinking if he thought at all, Of the
discomforts Of those whom Noah left behind, and
of that happy provision Of nature which renders
a wet back fatal to none but young goslings
Dodging between the drops was out of the ques-
ton; so he strobe manfnlly onward, until ne STUN
bled over something which lay like lion, or a
bundle Of wet clothing, in his path.
"Why, heo---what do you call this when it S
billed and the skins tuck OFF, said he, recover
ing himself, and giving the obstruction a thrust
with his foot. "What's this without ing'ens!"
continued hc in that metaphorical manner pecu-
liar to men Of his profession, when they ask for
naked truths and nncooked facts. aH I
q 1t was Ripton Rumsey-in that independent
condition which places men beyond the control
of circumstances, enabling them to sleep quietly
either on the pavement or on the track Of a well
TaVelleu TalTOdu, W FcPoSc III ucSPlto VI
thunder, a gnawing conscience, or the fear OF a
locomotive. twas Ripton Rumsey, saved from
being hoated away solely by the saturated condi-
tion Of both his internal and external man.
m '.Iis man." remarked the investigator, hold
ing to tree with his righthand, as he curiously,
yet cautiously paved Ripton with his left foot.
.ssIt's man who's turned in outside Of the door,
and is taking snooze on the cold water princi-
pie. Well, say, neighbor, jist in a friendly
way" added he, giving Rpton prodgous Kick
as an evidence Of his amicable feeling-''if you
don't get up, you'll ketch nagee or the collar
and-fx-you Up with you, Jacky Dadle."
Ripton's condition, as before hinted, was be-
yond the ordinary impulses to human action; and
he, therefore, endured several severe digs with
the foot aforesaid, without uttering more than a
deep toned grunt; but at last the sharp corner Of
the boot coming in contact with his ribs, he sud
denly turned over in the graceful attitude Of frog,
and struck out vigorously. Like Giovanni's faith
ful squire, he proved himself an adept at swim
ming on land. He 'handled" his arms and legs
with such dexterty, thab before his progress could
be arrested, he was on the curbstone. The next
instant heard him plunge into the swollen and
roaring kennel, and with his head sticking above