The Whig standard., 1844-04-10
From the New Orleans Picayune.l
FUN ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

s'Awake! awake!
Ring the alarum bell Murder and treason!
Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake Oft this downy sleep, Deaths counterfeit"
One of our crowded river packets arrived al
| the Levee on Thursday, bringing several hun
dred visitors to the city. On the way down the
river, at Natchez, Vidalia, and all other large
| towns and "internediate landings" new crowds
of passengers were taken on board, and on We'd
nesday night it was utterly impossible for all to
obtain sleeping accommodation. The berths were
all occupied at an early hour, some of them
being made to "carry double'' on this occasion,
and the floor Of the cabin was piled deep with
drowsy individuals when the late hours of the
night came on.
When the card-tables broke up, and every
body was at length disposed for slumber, there
remained just ten who could find lodging room
nowhere. They had left off Dragging and
"pokering," and now peeped into every state
room and fumbled around in every corner of the
cabin and social hall but not space of four
feet by Six inches could they find any where to
lie upon. Determining to be useful in some
manner they constituted themselves myster.
GUS committee, or grand "Council of Ten" for
the purpose Of guarding the slumbers Of those who
had gone to bed. Striking their sticks upon the
cabin floor. and making prodigious clatter, they
told every body to 60 TO sleep, giving at the same
time, serious assurance that nobody should be dis
turbed.
One Of these "watchmen of the night" Great
ed tremendous racket by slapping his cane
lengthwise against state-room door. People
lifted their heads up all around the cabin, and
also the occupants of the state-rooms opened their
doors.
"What is the matter" J" inquired parsonage
in nght-cap.
"Nothing nothing !" said the watchman; II
only wish to tell you to 60 to sleep--nobody shall
disturb you ="
Mutterng many maledictions, the passengers
composed themselves again; but in a few mo.
ments another clatter arose.
"What is the matter - inquired several voices
" What is the meaning Of this %
"Let me beg of you all to compose yourselves"
said the watchman, in tone as loud as his lungs
could reach. go to Sleep and nobody shall dis-
turb you!r 20
One or two more ludicrous experiments of the
same nature followed, and then recumbent in
dividual demanded to know " " hat in the thunder
was the meaning of the rumpus 7"
I" Don't be uneasy" exclaimed another watch
man: 1--WE are on duty and we wish you to keep
yourselves comfortable. Shut up and 90 to sleep
nobody shall disturb your
The Council of Ten walked up and down
among the seepers upon the floor, planting their
sticks Unfortunately everywhere. and elicitng
all sorts of nocturnal sounds from the oblivious
people around, as if sheep, calves cats, dogs, &C.,
were breathing their innocent calculations Of un.
happiness.
What do you ,oant ?" at length exclaimed an
impatient gentleman upon the floor.
What do ,oant ?" replied the watchman.
Yes. SIR; what do you want Z"
want you, my friend, to go to sleep II am
here on guard, and nobody shall disturb you."
I'VE shan't he disturhed ah ~
"You shan't."
I'D like to know what you call disturbance,
stranger Can't you go to bed and be quiet =
Another of the Council found the pole with
which the clerk measured wood, and picking out
a fat, pussy individual, snoring away upon the
floor, commenced "stirring him up" by poking
him in the side.
"What's the matter now Z" said the fat man,
half rising on his right elbow, while with his