Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-05-16
MISCELLANY. N Y
Reuben DOOlittIes Trip TO New
Orleans ~at

for anv desired length of time, suitable sales
rnen aud book keepers, on account OF the
Unhe,lthy nature of the climate in general,
and the prevalence of the yellow fever in
particular. As the most capable clerks were
obtained from the northern cities, the mer-
chants held out great inducements, and Of
fered large salaries to tempt young men TO
leave their homes in New England, and en-
hance their fortunes by sojourn at the
South.
Among those who run Wild with the idea
that they could obtain competency in few
wears in New Orleans, was one Reuben
OooIittle, who, after getting his courage up
10 the sticking point notwithstanding his
great fear Of the yellow fever, lett his fathers
farm in Vermont, and set sail from Boston.
As our story is located in New Orleans, we
will make a long jump, and land at once
with our hero in the Crescent City,
On arriving at New Orleans, Reuben took
lodgings at hotel, where, as he had been
informed, men of mercantile pursuits were
in the habit of meeting, from time to time,
for the arrangement Of business matters with
out>ot.town tradesmen, and where not a few
of them boarded. After being comfortably
Ioomed in the fourth story, his first move
ments were, to put himself into the 'purtiest'
trim his wardrobe and taste would permit
The painful operation of shaving, and skin
niug with cold water and Peter-P PinGer razor
being gone through with, and the after in
Fiction Of soap-suds ablution of the peck
and face, completed, during which last per-
fermance, the principal part of the water
went running down his back, and the whole
Of the soap was deposited in his eyes, causing
him to revolve in very unique gyrations about
the reom,) he drew forth the identical drib
pants, and swallow-tailed, brass buttoned
blue coat, which had so excited the wondrr
aud admiration of the village boaux, when
he wore them for the first time the Sunday
prior 10 his departure for the South, aud
whcl, had caused the taicr, or rather the ar
tiste who had fashioned them, 10 lie over
whemed and bewildered with business for
the easung three months With exceeding
care and dehcacy did he draw on over his
thin exlremilies, those delicate drabs and
sshen bis toilette was completed, with great
pride did he crown the whole with the in
comparable blue coat.
Now, by gracious . exclaimed Reuben,
exutingly, My market is JUST as good as
made; 1t any body wants 10 get feller as
syil be an honor TO EN-, all THEY'VE got TO
do is to find out where board. ID they want
a smarter or genteeier looking chap than
am, they'll proberly have to hunt around in
some other district than .Nedu Oreans.-
Folks says that situations is as plenty as
moskeeters, specially for bright, intellectual
young men like me. 'spose the trouble
will be TO make a choce-theres so many
chances, that one is sure 10 get faggled TO
decide what sort of ore to take Now |
ain't a-going to be 50 derned nice about it
If man offers me situation in Bank or
Insurance office, at salary of, say d5eout
two thousand dollars, or little over, shall
take it, and make more fuss about it any
how. But should prefer cerkship in
Life Insurance Office, 10 do their wri,in' ana
cipherin' in a little taller shape than they
ever went any where. for think should be
safer there when the yaller fever comes along.
Any way, I'm in the market, and I'm bound
TO make these Louisiany folks know that if
they want real cute, wide-awake chaps. Yer.
mont's the place TO find EN-
The above solloquy muttered, al
short Intervals, by Reuben, during the time
occupied in dressing. This operation being
finished just as the dinner gong sounded, he
descended to the diuing-haii, and took his
seat at the table.
Never having before sat at dinner in first
class hotel, every thing he saw was matter
Of wonder and curiosity to him, The n,odlts
operdndi of the head waiter and his subordi-
nates--ihe number of courses and frequen,
changes the variety of Dishes and the un-
2ronounceable names given TO them, threw
him into a state of astonishment, which
nearly deprived him of appetite.
After recovering from his bcwilderment,
he applied himself manfully to the viands
presented him, and displayed vgor in dis
posing of them that bid fair 10 amply make
up for lost time. His peculiarly OF manner
attracted the attention Of many and the ri
diculouS nature of his questions and orders,
was soon observed by some fun-loving wags,
who never lost an opportunity of enjoying
themselves at others expense. In Reuben
they discovered rich subject for Sa,cing'
operation, and they determined that not many
hours should pass away before he became
the victim of the largest sort of circular.
Half an hour after dinner found our hero
IN the barroom, doing the agreeable with the
mad ones After asking them TO take
drinks and cigars 'aIl reound,' he had no hes
itation in telling them the object of his visit
TO New Orleans, and his hope of getting
immediate employment NOT forgetting to
speak Of his fear of the ydller fever.
They gravey assured him that, as 10 the
matter OF obtaining business, there was not
the shadow of a doubt. All he had to do.
was 10 stick for a good price, and leave the
employers to draw lots to decide who should
have him at any rate. But when they spoke
OF the yellow fever, they shook their heads,
and looked ominous. Strangers, they said,
had mighty poor show, and among Yer
monters 1t had been fatal in almost every
case.
he latter part Of these remarks, fright.
ened Reuben almost out of his wits which
being observed by the wags, who had loog
before discovered his bug bear. they went TO
work to pile on the horrible as fast a, possi-
BILE. One declared, that never during the
annals of New Orleans, had the fever pre-
vailed to such an alarming and fatal extent.
as at the then present time while another.
very seriously asserted that there was no
particular cause for alarm, as only tuo thous-
and had been buried the day qefore. Every
one Of the initiated had his story to tell, IN
which he painted the horrors Of the fearful
malady, in the most vivid colors. And every
narration was made in such q callous, off
hand manner, that Reuben quvered with
terror. ,,. - -
"hiie matters were at this point. mar
entered the Dar-room, with quick, business
like step, and proceeded at once to examine
the names in the hotel register. He was ac.
companied by an attendant. holdiop in his
hand long wand. or measuring rod. Anv
one, looking sharply at these two men would
have recognized them as a couple of the
wags, slightly disguised. Having COMPLETED
his examination Of the register, the frs
conner turned to the bar-keeper. and said =