Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-17

1T was about TWO CLOCK as approach
ed the house, on one ofthe hottest days in
July, that you perhaps ever saw. A mum.
Der Of well-fed, long legged shoats were
asleep in the lane that led up to the house.
In the horse lot were some seven or eight
horses, and the mules stood over their
corn and fodder winked at the flies, or
were rolling iii the sand. Here and there
a negro might be seen, stretched at his
full length in the sun. fastasleep. "A pack
of hounds were enjoying the same luxury
in the shade. Nobody was stirring either
Iir the heuse, .i.a-yard, or The Kitchen
Really, thought l, this is the land Of Nod!
The fact was, as afterwards learned, they
had just laid by their crop, and the hands
were enjoying the customary holiday on
such occasions. .aa .aa
TO humor the thing, sudden fancy
coming into my head at the time, l strip
ped my horse and turned him into an emp
ty stable, where supply of provender
seemed inviting him, and walked into the
piazza, without waking any one of the
sleepers. From the loud snoring in one
end Of the house, easily guessed where
the old people were sleeping; and certain
signs in the fixtures Of the window and
bed curtains, bureau, looking glass, &c.,
1.-THE door being open, showed that this was
ia girls room, and took it for granted that
my sister was also asleep there, ','
/ was prodigious hungry, but still ha-
ted to spoil the joke | calculated on, by
waking any body. An old fashioned safe
stood in the passage, which | was sure
contained something in the eating line.
opened it, and found half boiled ham, the
best part of a chicken pie, plate of bis
cult, &C., and a Jug Of ,buttermilk cooling
itself in pail of water. Besides these,
a basket of peaches was standing on the
table, and several large watcr-melons w.
ing under it. With my then keen appe-
tite, and knowing how welcome it was to
any one, much less to long absent son, |
did not hesitate to satisfy my appetite in
a pretty substantial manner.
Having appeased the first calls of hun
ger, l then looked around to reconnoitre
the premises. The furniture, as well as
the house, all looked new and strange; the
cats, dogs, and horses, also; and even the
negroes, as far as | could Judge fromtheir
sleeping posture, were all new. The old
man must have sold out his negroes and
stock, as well as land, | thoug ht, or I
should certainly see something familiar to
me-howcver, they win soon be awake,
when shall know all. Now for my
Joke, said to myself; will lay down and
pretend to be asleep, just to enjoy their
surprise when they find me. But must
peep in and look at little SIS as she has
left the door open. I stole softly to the
door, where ! could plainly discern the
form of a young lady fast asleep, but the
curtains were down, and the room was
too dark to make out her features distinct
ly. You little toad, said I, how you've
grown-Tll punish you for this. I've a
great mind to kiss you and suiting the &C
ton to the word, | stole as fine kiss as
any one could desire. The sleeper cring-
ed, and | thought was going to awake, 50
! got out, and lay down on bench in the
piazza, pretending to be asleep, but the
heat of the weather, and the fatigue of nv
Journey, together with a hearty dinner,
soon put me into sound sleep. How
long continued in this state know not,
bit when ! opened my eyes found a
frightlul little negro, about nine years old,
strangely deformed, tanning me. with a
long bush; a large, red faced, red-pated
old man sat opposite to me, grinning and
chucklius, and wiggling about, as though
he wished, but feared, to awaken me,
while a little old woman was bustling about
very notably. ,.r .,r..
Il was thoroughly amazed ana dumb
founded---had forgotten how came there,
and did not know where | was A. my
scattered senses returned, began to re-
Icollect NY situation, and the joke pur-
posed playing upon my supposed parents
you have had a long nap,' said the old
man, i hope you feel reIreshed?' p, .s..ys
very much l replied, and tried to
apologize for the liberty l had taken in
strange house. I'd. I'D
sNot at all, not at all, said he, expect
ed you yesterday, and had a, fine beef kill
ed. Old woman, isn't there some of it LETT
.yet?' .,. ........ f.ys.,.s m a.aa al s,i
The old lady said there was plenty.
sThen make haste with supper. The
gentleman has had a long ride, and1I dare
say he is hungry as well as tired aaas
4 told him ! felt quite refreshed, and
was not at all hungry, having taken the
liberty Of opening the safe, and helping
myself, to such provisions as I found
there g4at,g aa.Ea84 ,a3~aa '.5 aa*H9H
Quite right--quite right, And now
tell us the news. When did you leave
Savannah? What's the price Of, salt
How do they sell sugar and iron' and es-
| pecially what is cotton wo'thg Doyon
think done good business in selling mine?
Don't you think it's going to rise!' 1867
Confused and embarrassed, as well by
the rapidity Of the questions as blythe ma
Eture Of them-his horing expected me yes-
terday, his asking when | left Savannah,
&c., placed me in quite quandary. l
answered that / had little news that
left Savannah. five days previous, and that
lcotton was ten cents and falling"
r ssGood, good. Mine brought ten and a
half, Idone well in selling, tssss"-
| you certainly did, l answ ered.5sns IS
I tTnopfy-caynp haloS Of to- on1 half