Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-04-26
FUN ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

we'd at the Levee on Thursday, bringing
several hundred visitors to the city. On
the way down the river, at Natchez, vi.
dalia, and all other large towns and in.
termediate landings new crowds of pas.
sengers were taken on board, and on
Wednesday night it was utterly impossi-
BILE for al to obtain sleeping accommcda-
i-tion. The berlhs were all occupied at an
early hour, some of them being made 10
! carry double on this occasion, and the
fioor OF the cabin was piled deep with
drowsy individuals when the late hours OF
the night came on.
! When the card-tables broke m, every
body was at length disposed Of for slum-
Der. there remained just ten who could
lind lodging room nowhere. They had
left off Dragging and spokeripg,' and
now peeped into every state-room, and
fumbled around every corner of the cabin
and social hall, butt not space Of four feet
by SIX inches could they find 10 lie upon.
Determined to be useful in some manner,
they constituted themselves a mysterious
committee, or grand Council of Ten for
the purposes Of guarding the slumbers of
those who had gone to bed. Striking
their sticks upon the cabin floor, and ma
king prodigious clatter, they told every
body 10 go TO sleep, giving at the same
| time, serious assurances that nobody
should be disturbed. a,.
One of these watchman of the night
created tremendous racket by slapping
his cane leng,hwise against the s,a,e-room
door. People lifted their heads ur all
round the cabin, and the occupants of The
state rooms opened their doors.
What is the matter inquired per.
sonage in a nighlcap.
= Nothing! nothing said the wa,chman;
| only wish TO tell you 10 go to sleep
nobody shall disturb you'll -.
Multerlng many maIediction, the pas
sengers composed themselves again !; bu!
in few moments another outrageous clat-
ter 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 Waterman, in a tone
as loud as his lungs could reach. Go
10 sleep. and nobody shall disturb you'll
- One nr twn lad:
recumbent individual demanded TO know
what in the thunder was the meaning OF
the rumpus? o.
Don. be uneasy exclaimed another
watchman 8 we are on duty, and wish
you to keep yourselves comfortable. Shut
up and 60 70 sleep-nobody shall disturb
you'll n#
The Council of Ten walked up and
down among the sleepers upon The floor.
| planting their sticks unfortunately eve>
nv where and eliciling all sorts of noctur-
nal sounds from the obvious people a.
round as If sheep, calves. cats, dogs, &C.,
were breathing their innocent eJaculatlous
of unhappiness.
.What do you want at length ex-
claimed an impatient gentleman on the
floor.
What do l want replied the watch
man.
, Yes sir, what do you want =
Il want you, my friend, 10 go TO sleep;
I am here on guard, and nobody shall dis
turb You
| w Z eIdu UC uIStuIUCu1 CA
sYou shan't.'
I'D like to know what you call dis.
mrbance, stranger. Cans you 60 to bed
and be quiet
Another Of the Council found the pole
with which the clerk measured wood, and
picking out a fat, pursy, individual. snor-
ing away upon the floor, commenced
stirring him up by poking him in the
side.
What's the matter now said the fat
man half rising upon his elbow, while
with his left hand he shaded his eyes and
peeped into the face of the disturber with
earnest scrutiny.
Nothing said the mad wag. I was
only going to tell you not to disturb your
sell. Go sleep-I mean nothing
Nothing! You be-, Punch a
man in the ribs with long pole, wake
him up, and call that nothing! Why don't
you go to bed2' IL
lin going-don't disturb yourself.
After hearing this consoling advice, the
fat man turned over on his side and again
composed himself TO sleep.
Silence now reigned for the space Of
some ten minutes, but it was not destined
10 be oflong continuance; for one Of the
merry wights caught glimpse of the
breakfast bell quietly resting upon a table.
This was just the thing and ,ing-a.ling !
,ing.a-hng soon resounded from one end
of The boat to the other. ~
| Every body jumped from bed. anxious
to be prepared early for the great festival