Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-11-06
a Western Editor.

In a certain town in America is situated the
office of Mr. Washington Wolfe Lick printer.
proprietor. publisher and editor of the citizen
oftfe West newspaper. Mr.. Lick was "sprv''
man OF some thiry-two wears, albeit somewhat
h ,gGard and worn in appearance, and slovcnly
As to dress. However, "a man he was" and
many time and oft has he caused the feelings
of the other sdrrS" in politics and opinions,
to "rilc up rough by his fare-up flaming
leaders.
1t was apipng day in June, Mr.. Lick, was
seated at the editorial desk, on an enormously
high stool In consideration of the heat of The
weather. his coat was thrown aside. aS, also,
was his neckerchiet: whereby very dirty pair
of shirt sleeves and an unwashed and unshaven
neck and chin were exposed to the public gaze.
Mr.. Lick rcjoiccd in a pair of nankn trowsers-
none Of the clcanest-and a pair of clarence
boots and consequently, by wearing no straps,
and his boots not being laced up, the trowsers
had rigg'ed beautifully over the tops of the latter.
Gently swinging his legs 10 and fro, musingly
plucking the stubblc from his grizzled chin. and
searching in the air for AN idea to illumine his
mental horizon, he presented the most interest
ing and natural picture of 1.-The Editor ut
Home" Round the room were hung number
of files OF newspapers and bills, over which the
dust and spiders had cast dusky mantle ; fes-
toons of cobwebs hung gracefully from the cell
ing To the walls, and everything therein, editor
and all, appeared sadly in want of cleansing.
Mr. Lick gazed at the ceiling for some time, but
nothing coming of it-no idea being nailed there,
ar dragged thcnce--he called, with loud voice,
and with theatrical accent, " Shadrack what
no . Shadrack - Obcdient to the summons, APP
peaTed IA negro boy who walked up to the desk,
and stood there, waiting TO be addressed but as
that worthy had commenced another spell of
gazing at the ceiling, and appeared not to have
observed his entrance, he asked, :" You call
Shadak, massa ?"
q la sayest thou ?" exclaimed Mr. Lick,
suddenly turning to him, with start that would
have gained three rounds of applause at the
Bowery Theatre. "Ah art thou there ? and
is it really you, mine, honest Shadrack ~ con-
iinued he, smiling sadly IN the astonishcd negro.
Come hither boy, ! would have speech of
thee"
Yes, massa."
"Didst thou 90, Sable, to Van Hansen. to ask
him if he would advertise his next sale in the
Ciii.en!"
"Yes, massa but he say he see me at de
debll lust. lie call You humbug"
Nay, by the rood, now but sayest thou
sooth Say, boy, art thou deceiving me ~
Dat what he say, massa"
hen may the foul fiend blight him May
he be suliocated in the black waters of the Mis-.
sisslpm may he sink low and he overwhelmed
in the bottoness sloughs of Oswero Oh. for
the power TO mount him on streak of creased
lightning, and ride him through the everlasting
forests of the West /! A humbup Nav he he
staked upon the topmost Himalaya to feed the
vulture and the eagle and may the everlasting
Atlantic swallow him - Having greatly eased
his mind by this string of anathemas, he once
more turned to the boy and asked, '' Hast thou
been, Shadrack, to Col. Roller, the keeper o.
the blliard-room in Broadway
"Yes, massa The tell me be off, or he kick mt
out de place"
"Didst thou go to Gen Chop, the tavern
keeper p
"Yes, massa, you re to put in his 'vertse
ment four time"
"Good, Shadrack, good thou art faithful
fellow Didst call at Heman's y
.sYes, massa he dreadful cross. lie sa,
you send bother hin again, he come with thicI
stick and beat life out.
s. a! say'st thou. Then llermans fate i
sealed. Thou shalt have il in our very mex
number, Mr.. Herman saying which, Mr., LcI
took huge pocket-book from his desk, and en-
tered Mr.. Herman's name therein, amongst tios