The Southern journal., 1846-01-24
The Lost Boots.

we 90 not know that any oil our rea aaers
have heard the story of the man who s.lost
his boots'' on the western steamboats,
We will tell it if they have not.
An unsuspeciing young fellow, who
was probably making his first steambo at
voyage, "turned in" at seasonable hour,
leaving his boots, most formidable pair,
outside the berth. Ofcourse they we're
regarded by the sable knight Of the black
ing brushes fair prey, as we'll as fiji
subject for the lavishing Of his poishin g
paste and elbow energies. A flimsy pair
of sheep skin slippers were LETT in their
place. Brigh, and early our green horn
was astir. Judge of his astonisbment
when he found his ''understandings' gone
Judge ofhis CONSERVATION, when faithful
search about all the neighboring berlhs
failed TO bring them TO light. Suddenly
his eyes lell upon the sheepish- looking
slippers, and as suddenly the startling
truth broke upon him-"I've been rob-
bed! I've been robbed!''' he cried "Siop
your boat. Hllo there? A bran new
pair OF cowhldes, retail price twenty shil-
lings, gone to eternal no where? Captain
Eve been robbedn'
By this time fifty heads with wondering
curious faces therento attached, were in
full vie" from as many berihs listening to
the outcry, and looking on in silent enjoy
ment Of the scene.
"Darnaion seize the critter that stole
them boots! | wonder if an honest mar
can't steamboat II down tew York wi,hou,
losing his Sunday go-to-meetin' boots? ]
wonder eff it's gineral thing to take boots
in that way?''
'Did you leave them outside your berth? !?
asked one.
''Tew be sure did," replied the be-
reaved.
! "Well," said the other, ",hen YOU have
been served as you might expect, for IFS
a very common thing for passengers to
have their boots taken away after they turn
in" ..t4
''Il's an Internal imposition upon the
trasellin' public, tew steal the peoples
boots this way. And see what the scamp
has left in their place? 'spect sich pair
of old, worn-out, soulless, unheeled, slufl
scuffs aint worth three cents. Can't get
'em on" cried he, attempting TO draw his
great "corn planters" into them. 81 can,
get 'em on, and eff | could, they wouldn't
stay on a second-l'm blessed ell don't
make a rumpus about this,"' and ha-
wing coaxed a few Of his toes into each
slipper, he started for'up STAIRS as he call
led it.
"Tell every body you meet" cried one.
$50 rout the Captain, and ask him to
search the boat,'' advised another
'Watch The feet ofevery one you see,
suggested third. rsfp...i
Armed and equipped with all this ex.
cellent advice, and filled TO the chin with
indignation, he went upon deck--sluff
skuf, stuff skuf, stuff skuf. kersIap--lhose
slippers were all in active motion over
head, and the whole cabin burst into roar
of laughter. Presently the uproar on
deck was tremendous. There was run.
ming TO and fro. and laughter and curses
and excama,ons; but above the hub-bub
was heard the shriil whine of our hero
''l'm highway robbed''--Who's got my
bools"-"This way Captainn- Boots
Bran new'--'Cost go shillings'--'Stop
thief a.e3 J,aT a
When the stdhm was at its height, snow.
fball quietly walked in with the boots. beau.
tifully polished, followed closely and steal,
thlly by their owner, whose eyes bazed
like a panther's. Having found the No..
blackey placed them where he found them,
when, with yell Of triumph, our booiless
friend sprung forward, caught The astonish
&c wretch by the neck, and exclainline,
I've cotched the thievin' scoundrel here
he is boots and all--know'd I'D smoke i'm
eout'--commenced dragging him up the
cabin stairs. The poor black yelled like
a loon, and his captor roard like young