American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-27
From the Revie
A RESURRECTIONIST AND HIS FREIG HIT.


"Once upon time mot a long time ago
a popular comedian, of whom nothing further
need be said than that he is fast losing his ear
ly pretensions to shape and beauty, and that
his name is Tom Ptacide ;-once upon time
and, if there be any curiosity as to season,
we might as well say "during the fall''-thls
wag of a fellow was descending the Mississippi,
in fine spirits and sporting coat. There
were divers queer characters on board of the
steamer, with whom Tom, while amusing
himself with their peculiarites, was withal a
great favorite, but none of them "eotton'd' to
him more kindly than an elderly "hoosier,"
from the innermost depths of Indiana, and who
was not visiting New Orleans for the first time
This russell looking antique, whether it was
| from the comedians sporting buttons, or his
habit of concluding controversy with 'l'll bet
you," &c., fully made up his mind that Tom
was gentleman sportsman" and wherever he
saw 'small game" going on he was careful
in noting the skill and quality of the players,
the "sze Of their pipe," &C., and bringing
Tom the items. The gentleman sportsman"
was very much obliged, Of course, though he
didn't exactly know what to make of it, when,
one day, the confidential hooser took him
aside, told him that there was a "smart chance
of ple'' on one of the tables, and that if he
liked, he (the hoosier) would ego in with him
in cahOot" Tom was very much amused at
this, but told his proposing partner that he was
mistaken-that the fancy coat covered not
sportsman" but player.
7 ''Swan to gracious' exclaimed the old con-
triver,-"One of them felers that tumbIeS!-
seen'em, once, more'n half naked, cuttin' up
down to Madison"
Tom didn't trouble himself much in explain
i,rr ho Iiffnrapaa hot uo thea fripal cbO1g
and a circus sholc, but told the story of the
cards, &c., about the boat, rendering the old
fellow quite an object of interest to the passen-
gers. Next to the card playing, the object OF
anxiety to the Hoosier was u very large and
singularly shaped pine box, which lay in the
''Social Hail. containing nothing more nor
less than big fiddle, and which was owned by
a very reserved and gloomy looking German,
on his way south, professionally.
"PlaS," said the Hoosier-he was thrice
familiar with Tom after learning that he be-
longed to sho,o-"what on airth hav they
got in that box; its the onhumanist shape |
ever see in all creation!''
"Hush," said Tom, mysteriously; "Don't
you know?"
"No! Pm nightly dead guessn'"
"Bodies!" whispered the comedian, with a
strong expression of loathing.
"Bodiesr echoed the startled enquirer; "not
ra'al human bodies!''
"Bodies!" repeated Tom, at the same time
applying his handkerchief to his nose; "taking
them down for dissection; belong to doctor
on board" The Hooser turned away, open,
ing his eyes and shutting his nose. At length
he enquired if they were ".Niggers?"
"White woman and two children" was the
reply; Zone on each side of her--accounts fol
the shape of the box" At this moment the
, haggard, unshaven violinist approached, and
the thoroughly "sawed" victim made way fol
! him as if he had been the cholera incarnate!
"Goes about diggin' on 'em up, does he'
: said he, between his teeth, and in a suppressed
voice, "why, it'll breed pson!" and out hi
went on the ''guard' to take long breath.
Tom took this joke, also, among the pas
. sengers, who carried it on, highly amused
r making wide circuits whenever they had to ap
proach the box, using their handkerchiefs, ant
expressing much Indignation at the captain TO
permitting that description of freight to b
: brought under the noses of his passengers
Some talked of leaving the boat, and Others @
t lynchng the doctor, till at length the captain
e who had also been put up to the fun, approach
y ed the crowd, then gathered about the bar.
t "Phew!" SMILED the captain, otis yer,
G warm in here, gentlemen phew"-and he pull
# ed out his handkerchief "Gentlemen, ism
Q there something unpleasant about here7"
= ssPretends not to know what it is.' muttere
e the Hoosier, aside.
It "Barkeeper," continued the captain, "wha
:. the deuce is it -phew-so quser here?n
:. "Reckon YOU don't know!" exclaimed tn
S Hoosier, stepping forward, and almost culver
d ing with indignation