Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-09-14
From the Great West


,uckv' could produce 1t was at that time
that was sent TO a country boarding school,
some thirty miles from my birthplace, Louis.
vilie-amd an agreeable school il was, for II
! had but two departments, and they simply
| consisted of male and female. Our tutor and
tutoress were the kindest souls IL Christen-
dom, and never indicated a heavier punish
ment than that of sending the guilty one to
bed supperless, or derriving him or her OF the
privilege of the recess. Then there could be
| no wonder in imposing upon such good nature
but for my adventure. s
Therewas only door. Chat, of course,
! locked) thai separated the domltory OF the
/ boys and girls: but the kind builder had not
omitted 10 place ventilator over this door;
and, as luck wonld have it, the good mistress
had covered it with small green baize cur
tain upon our side. After enjoying a fine dance
upon the green, and that, too, under the pref
TEST moonlight that ever shone, we were
assembled in The chapel to prayer. and then
sent 10 our separate dormitories-the girls,
some fifteen in number, taking one flight of
stairs, while we eighteen or twenty of the
/ greatest scamps alive. took the opposite flight
our master and mistress returning to their
/ own room. A few moments found all in bed,
and strange 10 say, perfectly quiet We had
lain so hut short time, when We heard a
sudden creak, like bedstead put in violent
agitation, and this was followed by suppress
cd litter 1Sss
by golly, boys, there's fun among the
gals,'' exclaimed. g and here's what's going
10 have peep at 'em." < e.g
In moment every bed showed sitting
figure bounded out, and ran softly 10 the
keyhole-but The fallen angels had stuffed il
| ror-and that VINE er1a sss.z.z- 40.
50 Never mind. boys-easy now. and I'll
give you all sight, tezeaas-sE-5T 5Sg
] softly drew a table and placed against the
door, and with The greatest difficulty stood a
chair upon it-for the table being small, the
chair made most loo great a stride for it,
However, mounted, and raising one corner
of the curtain. the whole scene was visible &c
me- --as-ae u-EE
The girls had placed two beds, some six OF
eight feet apart, and laid feather bed on the
floor between then, 81 they were then exercising
themselves by jumping from one bed TO the
other There was one very fat girl, about as
broad as she was long, and in no way calcu
lated for physical exertions; but she had go
upon the bed, and stood swinging her arms
10 and fro, making every indication for des
perate Jump. By this time was on the f1ool
and my place at the curtain supplied by an.
other sprig of mischief. He leaned down
and whispered-the fatgirl was going TO Jump
oh. golly '' said he, if Fan only falls
won't she roll over nice % .-e -E-.s
,, was determined 10 see this and climbing
up again, we both occupied the i" lettering
! pile With one hand over our mouths, and
pinching our noses, to prevent a burst oil
, laughter we stood breathless. awaiting the
lawful calamity 1f#
t'There she goes, by jingo"' I exclaimed
She didn't do it though-for her feet just rest
ing on the round OF the bed, she balanced but
! Homent and fell backwards. head down ant
feet in the air, rolling and putting like por'
polse, but displaying no mean agility Tor such
an embarrassing situation. ...--. r.zeaq
{ We could hold in no longer. but shook with
laughter The chair tilted, and down all came
together, with acrash like a young peal o.
thunder. gss re= --, g z..,5-.s5.-. '<-
"To bed-to bed. boys" said |. "and leave
the rest to me-"
In an instant all was quiet; every boy in
o bed and sound asleep. with the exception o.
myself. Oh such attempts TO snore as nigh
have been then heard-but we were all used
to playing the 'possum, and now concluded tc
= givethe approaching tutor and wife sample
OF somnambulism.
Now don't laugh, for the world, boys
and see me DO the thing" -sff~za ~
raised the table on its legs, and getting or
ii, was concluding my speech that had writ
ten and committed to memory for the day
f and here the trainers Of young ideas entered
but still continued
. " Friends and fellow students: Overwhelmed
as am with gratitude for your kind attention
| I cannot refrain from expressing thanks, yes
n warm and heartfelt thanks; and to you, dea
n sir, Uhis of course meant the tutor, and at this
: point my vacant staring eyes were upon him,
will my heart ever yearn.. / look upon thi:
. moment of life with pride that sweIls my
young bosom almost to bursting; and wher
manhood shall close my youthful career, and
4 my country shall call me to her halls of legis
e Iation, there will exercise every truth anc
virtue installed into my heart by your kim
= and fatherly tutoring. These boy ishtears o
Joy will yet swell 10 gushing stream of am
bilious glory and then will look back Il
), these days, and with you uppermost in m
thoughts. exclaim, Twas you, yes, you, 81
THAT made me " hat / am n7'' zEfs< es a9 3a
r "Bravo braVo!my boy" both of.them ex
!. claimed. eaa @f's ''assaeJ = s1as5
5 r. Igot off the table now, seeing | had th
Ie1 game in my own hands, and walking slowI
J. fup TO the window, gave myself up 10 dee
s. sobbings, and really appeared much affected.
n The tutor approached me and called m
1T softly by name, but answered him not an
s. turning slowly from him, walked 10 tn
Is other side of the room, avoiding the rays G
.. the lamp which the, mistress was directing NJ
re OH me. - - - g.. "a, ...-..t 49,
a. "He is asleep my dear,'' exclaimed the tn
o. tor, " and it must have been the dragging o
leJ the, table over The floor that made such arun
!, bling noise. Give me the lamp. and go brin
i'd BASIN Of water-L will effect a lasting car
g. upon our yeuag somnambulist."s .ssz.ss 7a1
as III heard many suppressed tlters. and eoul
~ seessundfy corners of sheets going iRto sur
u dry mouths This nearly destroyed my eau
/ librium butt mastered myself, and sgai
! went TO the window, though the mention q
:. the basin of water caused momentary skud
10 der TO shoot through my whole frarne.Tss1
.. The good dame returned with what mag
be nifed into an uncommonly large vessel of wa
bter ,'but it was no delusion-forz in her hast
she brought the 50 filteEer,a and knew certai
i. it was cold ducKing Twas 10 have. CoaI
= 1i-escape it would try. | walked first
!. one bed, then another-the tutor followin
~ with The flteFer. his wife playing ''toref
Fbearer,. - while the heavy breathing of Ii
vel 'possuming sleepefs added 10 the soiemhity
nv the scene. l still walked on, turning ava
he every time he proposed 10 donse me-. The
! had completely cut off the retreat 10 my ow
+ he'd and saw at once I cbouId have IN taE