The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-10-08

|
drabs; and when his toilette was completed,
with great pride did he crown the whole with
the incompatible blue coat.
Now, by gracousv exclaimed Reuben, ex-
ultingly, my market is just as good as made.
IF any body wants to get feller as will be an
honor to em, all they've got to do is to find out
where board If they want smarter or gen.
teeler looking chap than am, they'll probably
have to hunt around in some other district than
Neau Orleans. Folks say that situations is as
plenty as moskeeters, specially for bright, in
telectooal young men like me. | 'spose the
trouble will be to make a choice--there's so
many chances, that one is sure to get faggled
to decide what sort of one to take. Now
amt a going to be so derned nice about it--if a
man offers me a situation in 4 Bank or lnsu-
rance office, at salary of, say abeomttwo thou
sand dollars, or leetle over, shall take it,
and make no more fuss about it, anyhow. But
should prefer clerkshp in Life Insurance
office, to do their writin' and cipherin' in lee
tie taller shape than they ever went anywhere,
for think Isllould be safer there when the yal-
Ter fever comes along. Any way, I'm in the
market, and I'm bound to make these Lousiany
folks know that il they want real cute, wide.
awake chaps, Vermont's the place to find EN-.
The above soliloquy was muttered, at short
intervals, by Reuben, during the time occupied
in dressing. This operation being finished just
as the dinner gong sounded, he descended to
the dining hall, and took his seat at the table.
Never having before sat at dinner in first
class hotel, every thing he saw was a matter OF
wonder and curiosity to him. The nodus ope-
randi of the head waiter and his subordinates
| the number of courses and frequent changes
the variety of dishes, and the unpronouncea-
BILE names given to them, threw him into state
of astonishment, which nearly deprived him of
appetite.
After recovering from his bewilderment. he
applied himself manfully to the viands present.
ed him, and displayed vigor in disposing OF
them that bid fair to amply make up for lost
time. His popularity of manner attracted the
attention Of many and the ridiculous nature OF
his questions and orders, was soon observed by
fun-oving wags, who never lost an opportunity
of enjoying themselves at others expense. In
Reuben they discovered rich subject for
'so,eing operation, and they determined that
not many hours should pass away before ne
became the victim of the largest sort OF clrcu-
lar
Half an hour after dinner found our hero in
the bar-rooln, doing the agreeable with the mad
ones After asking them to take drinks and
cigars all reound.' he had no hesitation in tell.
ing 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 yaller
| fever.
They gravely assured him that, as to the
matter of obtaining business, there was not the
shadow of doubt All he had to do, was to
stick fora 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 oml-
nous. Strangers, they said, had a mig ghty poor
show, and among Vermonters it had been fata
in almost every case. =
The latter part of these remarks frightened
Reuben almost out of his wits, which being OBJ
served by the wags, who had long before dis
covered his bug. bear, they went to work to pile
on the horrible as fast as possible. One de-
| clarcd, that never during the annals Of New
Orleans, had the fever prevailed 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 thousand had been buried the day be-
fore. 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 callous, Off
hand mann. r, that Reuben quivered with terror.
While matters were at this point, man ell
tered the bar-room, with quick, business-like
step, and proceeded at once to examine the
names in the hotel register. He was accom-
panied hy an attendant, holding in his hand
long waud or measuring rod Any one look
Ing sharply at these two men would have recog-
Missed them as a couple Of the wags, slightly
disguised. Having completed his examination
of the register, the first conner, turned to the
bar-keeper and said:
4 see you have but one arrival from the
North to-day--a Mr. Doolittle. Is he here!'
Reuben, on hearing his name spoken, sus-
pected at once that the inquirer was some mer-
chant in search OF clerk. He forgot the fears
that had beset him but a moment before, and
stepping briskly forward, announced himself as
Mr.. Doolittle.
The following dialogue then ensued between
the two; the answers being noted down on a
memorandum book, by the stranger,
'Mr. Doolittle, are you native OF the North!
tyoc cir was horn in the purtieSt part of