Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-05-09
Fun ON the Mississippi.

/ Fun ON the Mississippi.
| One of our crowded river packets ar.
rived at the levee on Thursday, bring
ing several hundred visitors TO the city.
On the way down the river, at Match
ez, Vidalia, and all other large towns
and 'sin,ermediate landings" new
crowds of passengers were taken on
board, and on Wednesday night it was
utterly impossible for all TO obtain
sleeping accommodations. The ber!hs
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 drow-
sy individuals when the late hours of
the nigh! came on.
When the card tables broke up, ev-
cry body was at length disposed of for
slumber, there remained just ten who
could find lodging room nowhere
They had left off Dragging and 'po.
kering.' and now peeped into every
s,ate.room and fumbled around every
corner of the cabin and social hall, but
not space Of four feet by six inches
could they find to lie upon. De,ermin-
ed to be useful IN some manner, they
constituted themselves mysterious
committee. or grand Council of Ten,
for the purpose Of guarding the slum.
bers of those who had gone to bed
Striking their sticks upon the cabin
floor, aud making prodigious clatter,
they told every body to go to sleep,
giving at the same time, serious assn
RANGES tina. nobody should be disturb
ed.
One of these 'watchmen of the night
created tremendous racket by slap
| ping his cane leng,hwise against the
stale-room door. People lifted their
heads up all round the cabin, and the
occupants of the state-rooms opened
their doors.
VIVA, is the matter! inquired per-
sonage in night cap.
Nothing! nothing said the watch
man; i only wish TO tell you to 60 TO
sleep-nobody shall disturb your
Mut,ering many maledictions. the
passengers composed themselves again;
but in a few moments another oulra-
geous clatter arose.
What is the ma,ter!' inquired sever
al voices. what is the meaning Of all
lhis!'
LIE, me beg Of you all 20 compose
yourselves said the Waterman, in a
tone as loud as his lungs could reach.
Go to sleep and nobody shall disturb
you!
One or two more ludricous expert.
ments Of the same nature followed, and
then q recumbent individual demanded
to know what in the thunder was the
meaning of the rumpus!
Don't be uneasy exclaimed anoth-
er watchman; we are on duty. and
wish you to keep yourselves comforta-
BILE. Shu, up and 60 TO sleep-nobody
shall disturb you!'
The Council Of Ten walked up and
down among the sleepers upon the
floor, planting their sticks indiscrimin-
a,ely everywhere and eliciiing all sorts
Of nocturnal sounds from the oblivious
people around as if sheep, calves. cats,
dogs, &C., were breathing their inno-
cent calculations Of unhappiness.
'Wha. do you want!' at length ex-
claimed an impatient gentleman on the
floor.
What do want!' replied the watch
man.
Yes sir, what do you want?' u =.
i want you, my friend, to 60 to
sleep; am here on guard and, nobody
shall disturb you!'
I'VE shan, be disturbed, eh?'
You shan't.' au.
I'D like TO know what you call dis
,urbance, stranger. Can't you 60 to
bed and be quie.!'
Another of the Council, found the
pole with which the clerk measured
wood, and picking out a fat, pursy. in
dividual. snoring away upon the floor,
commenced stirring him up by polk
ing him in the side.
Whats the matter now2 said the
ia, man, half rising upon his elbow,
while with his lef, hand he shaded his
eyes and peeped into the face of the
dis,urber with earnest scrutiny.
Nothing said the mad wag. Il
was only going to tell you not to dis
,urb yourself. Go to sleep-l mean
nothing
Nothing! You be Punch
a man in the ribs with long pole,
wake him up. and call that no,hing!-
Why don't you 60 to bed!'
I'm going-don'. disturb YOURSELF
After hearing This consoling advice, the
fat man turned over on his side and a.
gain composed himself to sleep.
Silence now reigned for the space of
some ten minutes, but it was not des-