Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1841-09-23
A STEAMBOAT ADVENTURE.

The boat was just ready, the second bel
was ringing, every thing was in confusion
discoDsolate old gentlemen were searching
in vain for their baggage, and terrified
young ladies were trembling lest half their
party were left on shore. Porters were
flying backward and forward with trunks
and bandboxeS, and stumbling over nurse
ry maids with children in their arms. The
heavy arms of the engine moved slowly mp
and down, and the boat, as if impatient OF
restraint, swaycd TO and fro, gathering up
her energies for IA mighty plunge.
just at that moment my friend Wilson
came up to me and said, /" | come TO ask a
favor of you, or rather to confer favor
upon you. a young friend of mine, Miss
Milton, is on board, aud am anxious to
place her under your particular charge
Come quick, the boat is leaving, you will
be in love with her before you pass Point
Judith. She is in the ladies' cabin, quick,
quick the bell is ringing, must he off,
Here how many bandboxes, Wilson 2
Only three
Are you certain?' .
'Upon my word, only three. Just saw
them taken from the carriage, three band
bones, FIVE trunks, land seven bundles She
returns in the next boat, and consequently
has no need of much baggage
followed Wilson will, somewhat doubt
full step, for although, as / have said, he
was my particular friend, lie was something
Of quiz,- and more than half suspected
that he would introduce to my acquaintance
some vinegar faced maiden, who had taken
her pound Of snuff for fifty years. My
fears however vanished, when l entered
the cabin, and was presented to one Ct the
loveliest women it has ever been my lot to
meet. She smiled withthe most bewitching
sweetness, thanked me for my kindness,
and promised to behave like good gill;
not to be very sea-sick, and give me as
little trouble as possible. spoke from my
heart when assured her that the more
trouble she gave me the better, so that it
would give me an excuse to be near her.
This is really kind in you,' I said, as
followed Wilson on deck !; Miss Milton is
in truth most lovely girl; l hope shall
have some means Of repaying your kind
ness
Pshaw nothing at all / might, TO be
sure, have put her under the care Of Sam
or Ned, you see them in tho aft part of the
boat indeed Sam intimated 10 me that lie
should like an iRtroduion to her, and ! be-
lieve Ned has come one day sooner than
he intended, for the express purpose
But wished to place her under the charge
of some steady substantial man. some one
upon whom l can rely !; these wild young!
folks are not fit TO protect young lady,
Well, good bye, the boat is going, an heir
sss, by the yaX.sa cool hundred thousand,
at least, take good care oftbe band boxes
So saying, he sprang 10 the wharf.
The boat, like noble horse, eager for
the race, leaped into the channel, and cut
her rapid way through the waters. stood
on deck with Miss Milton, watched the fair
city as it faded from our view, and pointed
out the most interesting places on the
shores and islands of the beautiful bay
down which we were sailing. Never vas
gallant knight mure devoted to fair lady,
and never did fair lady smile more sweetly
upon gallant knight. The hours flew as
rapidly as the boat, as though they too
were impelled by the all powerful influence
of steam. The dinner hour arrived, it
seemed, in five minutes after | came on
board. A dinner on board Of steamboat
is never very pleasant affair; and al
ways calculate on having one dish Of gravy
spilled on my coat by the walters, as mat
ter of course. Tho time was rendered pc
culia,ly unpleasant by a couple of children
who kept up continual squalling and fight
ing with their nursery maid. 1 am of an
af1ectionate disposition, and man of gene
raj philanthropy belong to the society
for the general improvement Of the human
race, and last year gave FIVE dollars TO the
society Of education, but do hate children.
I abcminate squalling children, and, above
all, de,est squalling children at the dinner
table, and l was on this occasion more
than usually annoyed, as they seemed per-
fectly offensive to my fair friend.
Sam and Ned were unsociable to me
during the whole passage they scarcely
spoke to me from the time we left the
wharf. ] observed, however, their atten-
ton was frequently directed to me, partic-
uIarly when was with Miss Milton; and
from their looks, doubted not that was
the subject Of their conversation. How
very envious some people are :
However, | took no notice Of their cool
ness, but continued pacing the deck, after
dinner, wrapped up in pleasant reflections.
aud balancing the numerous advantages Of
bachelors establishment. Remembered
that l was on the sunny side Of IS, and
began seriously to ask myself, if my table
would not lock better for having some one
at the head Of it TO turn out the tea and
coffee, and il my ire-side would not be
improved by sending of the old arm chair,