Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1848-08-24
A SELECTED STORY.
INCIDENTS or 4 DAYS ExcURslo,

/ lOQe Jay last summer TOOK my place
in Grayesend Steamer, and found con-
siderable amusement in watching the va
rious characters. Two persons in particu-
lar attracted my notice one was middle
aged gentleman, stout, rather surly, taci-
turn, who paid no attention to any living
being on board, except huge Ncwfound-
land dog, that was painting or lolling out
his tongue, or roamed among the passen-
gers, showing them out of his way, fright
ening children by suddenly covering their
faces with one lick of his great tongue,
and convincing nervous ladies' that he was
going mad by the yigor with which he
struck out his legs while rolling upon his
back upon the deck. His master eyed
these pranks with sly smile, and seemed
quietly to enjoy the terror occasion by the
antics of his burly friend
The other person whom | especially no
ticed, was very pretty and well dressed
lady. Young lady she would no doubt
have been called, but that she had with her
a little girl, about seven years old, who
called her "mamma" She was evidently
possessed of nerves. Indeed, she seemed
to be possessed by them, and their name
was Legion. Endless were the petty an,
noyances in which they involved her. But
her keenest suferings in this small way
were caused By the unwieldy gamboi9,st
Lion, the Newfoundland dog and her in
cessant and puerile ordinations ofterror,
indignation and spite, against the good
natured brute, kept up the sly malicious
smile upon the lips of his apparent unno.
ticing master The'little girl on the con-
trary, had, to the increased alarm of the
weak mother, made friends with the mon
ster; and for a long time amused herself
by throwing bits of biscuit for him to catch,
which feat, notwithstanding the incorrect
ness Of her aim, he managed toaceomplish
BY making boisterous plunge to one side
or the other and when at last she timid-
ly offered him piece out of her hand, and
he acknowledged the compliment by lick
ing her face and rubbing his side against
her till he almost pushed her down, the
little creature fairly screamedwith delight
Her mother screamed too, but in one Of
the SMALL hysterical screams in which she
was fond of indulging, and was followed
by an outburst of anger at Lions auda-
city
aGood gracious Y she exclaimed, ''ifthat
horrid creature should be mad he'll have
killed my child And how dirty he is,
too Look at your pclise, Adeline see
what state it is in. How dare you play
with that animal ~
This transition from hydrophobia to a
soiled dress was too much for Lions mas
ter, and he burst into long aud loud
laugh y
Il wish, sir,n said the lady, snappishly,
shat you would cal away that nasty dog,
instead of setting him on to annoy every
body who is not accustomed to have such
dirty animals about them"
The gentleman said nothing, but bowed
and walked forward and soon after saw
him enjoying cigar, while Lion played
the agreeable in his own rough fashion to
people who knew how to read the expires
sion Of his honest and intelligent physiog-
nomy
Little Adeline, deprived Of the attrac.
ton which had fixed her attention to the
inside Of the boat, began to seeamasement
in watching the foaming water, as it rush
ed from the paddle-wheels, and danced in
long lines behind them. She knelt on
shawl which fellow passenger had kindly
lent as cushion for her little knees, and
leaned quietly over the side watching the
roaring water; so her mother was for a
time relieved from the thousand mosquito
winged vexations which had hitherto beset