Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-01-01
From the Cincinnati Union.
A BOOTLEss SEARCH FOR BOOTS.


A ludicrous scene occurred on board the
steamboat Knickerbocker few mornings
since. An unsophisticated young fellow
from Franklin county, who was probably
making his first steamboat voyage, "turned
in" at a seasonable hour, leaving his boots,
a most formidable pair, outside the BERTH
OF course, they were regarded by the sable
knight of the blacking brushes fair prey.
as we'll as fit subject for the lavishment OF
little of his polishing paste and elbow en-
ergies. A flmsy pair of sheep skin slippers
were left in their place. Bright and early
our green horn was astir. Judge ofhis as
tonishment when he found his understand
ings" gone: Judge of his CONSERVATION,
when faithful search about all the neigh
boring berths failed to bring them to light.
Suddenly his eyes fell upon the sheepish-
looking slippers, and as suddenly the start
ling truth broke upon him-"I've been rob-
bed Pve been robbedn' he cried. "Stop
your boat HilIo there! A bran new pair
of cowhides, retail price twenty shillings,
gone to eternal no where! Captain, Pm
robbed 20
By this time fifty heads, with wondering,
curious faces thereunto attached, were in
full view from as many berths, listening to
the outcry, and looking on in silent enjoy
ment of the scene.
"Darnation seize the critter that stole
them boots! ] wonder if an honest man
can't steambot it down tew York without
losing his Sunday-go-to-meetin' boots?
wonder eff it's gineral thing to take boots
in that way?"
ibid you leave them outside your birth3''
asked one.
"Tew be sure | didp' replied the bereaved
"Well," said the other, "then you have
been served as you might expect, for it's a
very common thing for passengers to have
their boots taken away after they turn in.'
''It's an infarnal imposition upon the ira
vellin' public tew steal the peoples boots
this way. And see what the scamp has lief
in their place! 'spect SIGH pair of old, worn
out, soleless, unheeled stuff scuffs ain
worth three cents. ! can't get 'em on
cried he, attempting to draw his great "corr
planters" into them. ri can't get 'em on
and eff could, they wouldn't stay on Sc
cond-Pm blessed if don't make a rum
pus about this,'' and having coaxed few
of his toes into each slipper, he started fol
sup stairs" as he called it.
"Tell every body you meet,' cried one.
'Go and rout the captain, and ask him tc
search the boat,' advised another.
"Watch the feet of every body you see,'
suggested third.
Armed and equipped with all this excel
lent advice, and filled to the chin with in
dignation, he went upon deck-sluff scuf
stuff scutf, stuff scuff, kerslap-these slip
pers were all in active motion over head
and the whole cabin burst into roar o
laughter. Presently the uproar on deci
was tremendous. There was a running tt
and fro, and laughter and curses and excla
nations; but above the hub-bub was hearC
the shrill whine of our hero-"I'm high
way robbed''-'Who's got my boots"-
'.This way Captain''- -"Boots' '--"Bran new
-"Cost 90 shillins''-"Stop Thief"
When the storm was at its height, snow
ball quietly walked in with the boots, beau
tifuIly polished, followed closely and steal
thily by their owner, whose eyes blazed
like mad panther's. Having found the
No, blackey was as quietly placing them
where he had found them, when, with yell
of triumph, our bootless friend sprung for
ward, caught the astonished wretch by the
neck, and excaiming, '"I've cotched the
,hievin' scoundreI-here he is, boots and
Iall-knowed I'D smoke Jim eout"-com-
menced dragging him up the cabin stairs
The poor black yelled like loon, and his
cantor reared like Young lion. while the