The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-12-31

quenters Of bar rooms. Heavy raflers,
blackcned by time and smoke, crossed the
top Of the room, and from them, projected
hooks on which hung hams, hind quarters
Of smoked beef, baskets, kettles, and vari-
GUS articles of culinary use. Over the
chimney were several guns, covered with
dust and cobwebs, and which probably had
never been used since the landlord was a
boy; but on which he now occasionally cast
an anxious eye, as rumors OF war and strife
reached him from the more eastern colonies
Wooden chairs, wooden tables, wooden
dresser, garnished with pewter plates,shin-
ing like SO many mirrors, anda, huge arm
chair in the chimney corner, with Garret
Quacke enboss's ia. body and jolly face in the
midst of il, completed The furniture Of the
room. .Eceii2a
I! was abou. Eve o'clock in the after
noon Of ine bright day in autumn, and
in thi. very room. and in the mids! Of a
group Of half dozen men, with the face
Of the lsndlord of The Blue Horse shining
out, like red sun, from among them, that
we open our narrative. They were all
men Of the same class as. Garret-plain,
sturdy, substan,ial-mos.ly farmers ofgthe
neighborhood, who had loi.ered in 10 pick
up the gossip Of the day; or those who, on
their way from Albany or Schenectady,
had dropped in TO have a talk with old
Garrs., before indulging in that same plea.
sure with aheir better halves a, home. w
The subject, however, which now en-
crossed them was far from a pleasant one
Il seemed soleven TO the landlord, for he
was silent, and turned deaf ear TO all that
was going on; /. being fixed rule of his.
interfere in no mans difficulties bu, his own
And as this. which was a hot dialogue be-
tween The two Of the party was evidently
fast yerging into quarrel, after eyeing the
parties steadily for some time, he thrust his
hands into his pockets, and quietly left the
room. Before closing tho door. he turned
and looked solemnly at The disputahs,to lei
them see that, owing to their misconduct,
they were about being deprived Of the lighl
of his coun,enance, and then shaking his
head. and emitting from his throat gtum.
bling indication of supreme discomfort, he
shut the door and went out. ..f,s.t.
Go ne, come--siop this, Wickif1e,
!, said an old man, one of the party on whom
a. Ieas. Carrots look had produced an ef
!. feet. 'Dor't you see you've driven Care
:. off,! This dispute is mere nonsense a,
, The person whom he addressed was ;
short, square built man, with dark sallov
4, face, with scar on the nose,and one cross
a ing both his lips, as ifhe had been slashe'
d there with knife; dark black eye, that a
S times krdled and glowed. until il seemed
E red hot ball sci IN It's socket,a low wrinkle
e forehead, and lips that worked and twi'che
s barring and showing his teeth like masiit
/. preparing 10 bite. And as he sat there vi,
d his fingers working with anger, and his lip
j. writhing, he was about as ugly a lookip
IS fellow as one would wish TO see. ,q1 edi
,e1 He turned slowly 10 the old man .wh
,r spoke 10 him, and swapping his fingers
N his face, said 'D-n old Garret! Let hi!
n go, let him, and as for this dispute with th
,e boy. It's my affair. no. yours; SO don