The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-04-12
LODGING IN IOWA.
BY A NEW WRITER.


place for 'youDg man to rise.'' The
conception Of the idea. and the deiefmi.
nation lo test the truth Of il practically.
followed close upon the heels OF each
other. Accordingly. one bright and glo
rious morning in the spring Of '43, bade
farewell to my native village, TO the
crowd Of warm he rled relatives and
friends who gathered round me, aud with
a tear for the past and hope for the fu
ture, took up the line Of my march for
the III Dorado Of the North West
Iowa.
Ailer short and yery pleasant trip, |
debarked at Keokuk An old aud init.
nate friend of mine had located himself
some fifty miles back ofthis place, nailed
his law shnge against tree, and was.
as his letters informed me, doing a rush
ing business" | desired to pay him
flying visit, and soon found myself mount
ed and bounding away over the vast and
fertile prailies of the infant territory.
As night approached drew up at the
door ola sqpatter, and after brIef Parley
was admitted lodger for the night. The
house was merely what is known in the
West,a double squaIiery, and Of fcourse
contained but two rooms aud cock loft.
| was very soon stretching aud warming
my limbs before blazing bot fire, aud
replying, with all the volubility ! could
muster. to the innumerable questions of
the old squatter and his squatteress, or
half grown sou and two full grown dangh-
ters.
After partaking Of hearty supper,
and the table had been cleared aud set
back. the old pioneer said:
We'll. stranger. 'spose you feel tired
after your ride; when you wish to retire,
you can take that bed;" pointing to
one of the two beds which the room con-
taned
bowed an assent, and he aud his bet
ter half retired to their chamber in the
other end OF the building In litIle
while after the son assembled by ladder
to his apartment in the cock loft, aud
was left alone with the daughters, Mary
and Betsey Bean. Mary was large.
fat, fair haired, blue eyed lass of twenty
FIVE; Betsey was exactly her aniipode.
Small in stature, a brunette. with dark
hair and eyes as black as night. She
could not have been more than eighteen.
The conversation still went on; they
made no move TO follow the rest of the
family from the room, aud leave me TO
seek repose. But there they sat aud sat,
the fat Mary plump before the fire, and
the black eyed Betsey IN the chimney
corner. | was getting sleepy and sincere
ly wished they would 60; but all wishes
were in vain, there they still sat like fix
lures in reality. | now began mentally
to consign these two scions of the great
Bean stock to much hotter country than
Iowa. At last the liltle clock on the
mantle struck "ten." Now. thinks |. they
will surely go, for the lolling ofa clock
always reminds one that it is time to
come or go; but it had Ro effect on the
Beans, probably because they had heard
it so often At all events, there they
still sat My stock of patience was ex
hausted, my eyelids were exceedingly
heavy. and began to depair of tasting
tired natures sweet restorer'' that
night, when the bigger Bean, to my inf
mite joy, said, 81 see you are getting
sleepy, Mr.. Smith. and | reckon would
like TO 60 TO bedl'
Yes do feel little sleepy" re-
{ piled, not wishing to force their hospital
ity by appearing too anxious. She rose
n up from her seat, approached one of the
q. beds, pulled down the clothes nicely
. patted the pillow in the most inviting
shape, and-returned to her seat, saying
y that | could just turn in there when
had mind TO.
D The last vistage ofhope departed, ant
f reapsed into suliuess aud mused ovei
, what conceived to be a grievous mis-
r fortune. What on earth could they mean
t. Where were they going to sleepl o.
were they going to sleep at all! Who
was to occupy the other bed!
The last interrogation | asked myself,
brew me into a profound reverie in the
midst of which Tie little clock struck e.
r leven. could keep my eyes open no
longer. | must and would 90 to bed,
come what might Accordingly. gol
up, very leisurely pulled off my coat, and
threw it across the back of the chair
Now thought they would certainly go.
But they never budged. OF came my
cravat and collar, and took another side
glance at the Beans. They were both
; looking right at me, and appeared, as
thought deeply interested.
could proceed no farther. My mod
testy triumphed over my disposition 10
sleep, and | sat down once more in des
pair. | soon rallied, however. and de
termined to make last effort. pull
ed off one boot, then the other
then my stockings, and stretched my
tare feet to the fire. l took anolhel
glance at the Beans. They aeemed to
{ bear it all with Christian fortitude. In
deed. the black eyed Bean looked so in
I rently at my feet, that | began 10 thnl
she had discovered something peculiar il
l their formation, which had heretofore es
capped my observation.
D ! now literally gave in | had fire,
all my ammunition at the enemy, but M
e breec6es. but without success. He main
I tanned his position. and | began to reyolv'
a in my mind the easiest possible manne
i Of sleeping in chair. when the it'll
d clock toIled the still hour Of midnight