Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-12-04
WHOLE NUMBER 632.

"NoI a speck," was the reply.
"Any cornl hsyl or'-gTowing Desperate al
the negative shakes Of the browsy head before |
us-"any thingl"
'Nots bii," was the imperurbable reply. ats |
likely you can get some oats for the beasts over
to neighbor Jsckey's," he suggested al length, so
over to neighbor Jackeys some Of US posted, and
succeeded in getting about half supper for our
weary horses. Having seen them as comfortably /
lodged as it was possible in the wrstched sheds, |
miscalled stables, with manifold misgiyings rap /
ping al our bosoms, we entered the dirIy room,
where our dismayed companions still sat, shawl /
ed and bOnneted. They had hudded together on 1
on side Of the fireplace, where was blazing FIRE
sufficient TO roast a small-slzed OK, their ample /
skirts gathered closely around their delicate litile
ankles, TO preserve them from contact with the |
nauseous looking, uncarpeted floor. Opposite TO |
them, in a rickety old rocking-char, tall, large
boned woman was swinging herself to and fro,
with a child Of some tive or three years Of age,
seated on her knees, and clinging 10 her neck to
prevent its falling with every pitch the chair made
forward. By her side was a group of short, SAT-
fron-colored beings that | did not stop 10 count,
but which D., after close inspection with his indis-
pensable glass, declared in confidence TO the BRIDE
WCIC bLlG sIildll sIdheS Vi buc SIc0b hBuC-CakS
we had met out Of DOORS"
Mrs. H. had just succeeded in hushing her in.
fant TO sleep, and asked the feminine before US,
where she could lay it down. Without pausing
in her backward and forward sweeps, the prepos-
sessing landady pointed TO straw bed, built upon
the floor in one corner Of the room, as a very de.
sirable spot for the infants repose. Not seeing
any help for it, and as there seemed to be plenty
Of soft coverlets on the bed, Mrs. H. advanced,
and was in the act Of laying her lule charge in
its new crib, when with grunI and a squeak, u
fine six months porker bounced out from under
the clothes, and made his exit into the yard, near
ly upseuing the lady, who screamed loudly in her
fright, which wakened the babe, and called all its
vocal powers into requisilon, while the rest Of US
were nearly sufocated with laughter.
"Well, " said the large-boned feminine, al new
er seed hog that liked bed better n that one
does-we cant keep him Out no how-he sleeps
with Marthy Ann and Jeemes Worhingon every
night" Having given utterance 10 this remark
able sentence, she told "Sally Jane 10 get off her
lap, as she s'posed the strangers wanted some
supper, and she had candles TO make before she
could get it,"
Ii were vain to attempt painting the fallen coun-
tenances of the party that had been so jocular a
few hours before; but we were fairly in for il, as
by this time il was quite dusk, and with our tired
animals it was impossible TO proceed farther
Had it not been for D., we should certainly have
all cried, but what with his sage conversation with
the landlord, and his frequent journeys to the
kitchen, (Which was the next room, there being
but two below stairs,) and his sde-achIng reports
of the progress of the candle.making, we got
along bravely. At length, an old table was drag
ged into the middle of the floor, and "Marthy
Ann," the largest Of the "small Shakes" spread
what D. affirmed 10 beadirty sheet over its greasy
leaves, and laid thereon number Of suspicious
looking and curiously.unmatched dishes. Some
meat was then brought in, but fortunately for our
stomachs, D. had actually seen it cooked in the
remains Of the tallow in which the candles had
previously received their last dipping! The
grounds called coffee it was impossible 10 drink,
and the bread and butter were little better: true,
there was some honey, but the flies had taken pos
session long before we had arrived. The pigs all
this while, and absolutely full-grown swine, cut
in and out under the table, pushing, sQuealing,
and frightening the ladies after the most approved
style of pigocracy, until D. seized a large BUTCH
er-knife, and catching one by its playfulIy-cured
spot if they were not kept out Of the room.-
Hereupon the "small shakes" set up universal
yell, for it was the pet he had caught, the inter-
esting roaster, that made the third in the bed Of
"Marthy Ann" and "Jeemes Worthington."
Our supper was ended, and if ever there was
hungry, disappointed set Of individuals shown
to their sleeping apartments, twas our party that
night. Did | say sleeping apartments! ask
pardon of decently furnished rooms generally for
this unintentiona insult to their feelings. There
was but one room above, and landing-place;
the ladies were tucked away inside, and the coar-
ser sex mounted guard on the landing-place.-
There were, to be sure, ruggets and pallets laid
down for US, butwe found them so thickly inhab-
tied by different nations, that we concluded it was
better to talk and laugh, than make an attempt to
sleep. Oh! that long, dreary night throughout
which D. sat at the head of the stairs, hourishing
the knife he had never relinqushed, and COM
pletely soaring the swine below, who made seve-
raj movements towards ascending, Added 10
this, Mrs. H. IS babe had the collie dreadully, and
the ladies were all sick from fasting, and the
sights they had seen. At length morning dawn
ed, and hurrying TO the stables, we soon made
preparations for decamping, and at this period,
our landlord displayed the only signs OF life we
had discovered in him, by charging us double
price for the execrable food and lodging furnish
ed US. But D. took it out in jokes, and the free
use made of his glass, which latter seemed an es.
pecal annoyance 10 the "ague cake," as D. per-
sisted in calling him. A brisk ride Of ten miles
brought US to another town, and inn, where every
thing was as neat and sweet as it had been revol-
ting and filthy at our night quarters and here the
fresh rolls and rich coffee suffered "a few" you
may rest assured.
Reader, this sketch is true, and to the life, and
was taken down from the lips OF one of the party,
who laughingly assured US she never should for
get that evenings entertainment, if he lived
thousand years." N.