The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-07-18
A TIME IN OUR BOARDING
HOUSE.
by RUDDER.

HOUSE.
by RUDDER.
Ours is a most singular boarding Q
house. Scarcely day passes that the
steward does not break a new set of
dishes; an old gentleman precipate
himself headlong down steep flight of
stairs; an interesting child swallow a
pin; a lady boardcr's spaniel dash itself
accidentally from the third story win
dow; or, in fact, which does not abound
with variety Of disastrous occurrences
calculated to throw the boardcrs into an
uproar, and to reduce our landlord to
the most distressing state of anxiety.
One day last week there was calm
the first that had occurred for a
month. We congratulated ourselves
upon the event, and began to entertain
vague hopes that permanent peace was
about to be established; but, alas! the
house, is so doomed to accidents. that no
reliable conjecture can be drawn from
present appearances. The very next
day there occurred one of the most cx.
citing incidents that ever drove our
landlord furious, and wound up his
boarders into quintcsscncc of mcrri.
ment.
L had just returned from one of Will
sons rarest musical lunchcs, most of the
boarders had retired to their rooms,
and complete silence rcignncd in the
house. Striking light, I drew nv
arm chair near the head of the bed, and
threw myself upon it in mental state
OF luxurious incidence, repeating inter
nally, Wilson's Scots wha hac > ,
Thus sat for few moments, when
suddenly 1 heard two scrt ans in the
rooms overhead, so loud-so shrill-
they can be compared to nothing, save
the cry of a busy house wife after a
servant in the back yard. Soon heard
two bounds on the floor rs if of rersons
Jumping out of bed, and the cries were
repeated louder and louder in quick
succession. There was no time for con.
slderations. My ncighbors were cvi-
IDENTITY in a trying dilemma. Selling
the candle, l unboltcd the door and
rushed into the hall. But had been
torestallcd. All the doors of either side
ofthe hall were opened, and the inmates
excited to the last degree. Some with
night caps, some with only single
boot on, and one even sporting a pa;r
OF flaming red flannel drawers, were
crowded together in the hall, and hur-
rylng to the scene Of the catastrophc.
whats the mattcr?' cant say
whose voice is that?'- ?'-'oucM stand of
my corns.' BEG pardon--such con-
founded squcczing.' Lord! how she
hollers'-and on they rushed, hcltcr,
skeltcr, first from one hall to the other,
then up flight of stairs next to another
ball, and SO on to the scene of excite.
inert.
%, my!-hcavcns!' cried q female
voice, as the foremost of the partv
reached the landing. whats all them
men doing here?'
Stand back, gentlemen, stand back ,
cried one Of the least excited of the
boardcrs-a venerable looking gentle.
man, who had on his coat and no pants,
and held his candlc-stick upside down;
get back, if You please, there arc fc.
males hcre-thc helps Of the house,
gentlemen-Susan and Margaret
stand back, if you please.
Blu. what's the mattcr?'
Who the deuce cares if
go ahead, if you're going to-
We want to scc.'
gs WHAT'S it?'
But, gentlemen resumed the non
excitable speaker '.rhe females arc
not 'qlpite--that is to say Susan has, not
s--7hem hem!--I think it's only their
ss'allt91llittstls'ngs the girls have on
iilat's nothing--lo5's whats the
/ inatter,
n Wen shut our eyes
Good