Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-03-23
A DAYS EXCURSION.

One day last summer I took my place in
Gravesend steamer, and found ConSidera-
Die amusement in watching tie various
characters. Two persons in particular al
tracted my notice; one was middle-aged
gentleman, stout, rather surly, taciturn,
who paid no attention to any living being
on board, except huge Newfoundland dog
that was painting or lolIinG out his tongue,
roaming among the passengers, showing
them out of his way, or frightening children
by suddenly covering their faces with one
lick OF his great tongue, and convincing
nervous ladies that he was going mad, by
the vigor with which he stuck out his legs
while rolling upon the deck. His master
eyed these pranks with sly smile, and
seemed quietly to enjoy the terroEs occa-
stoned by the antics of his burv friend.
| The other person whom specially noticed
was a very pretty and wcil-dreSscd lady.
Young lady she would no doubt have been
called, but that she had with her a little
girl, about seven years old, who called her
mamma. She was evidently possessed of
nerves indeed, she seemed to be possess
sed by them, and their name was legion.
Endless were the petty annoyanCcs in which
they involved her. But her keenest suf-
IerngS in the small way were caused by
the unwieldy gambols OF Lion, the New
toundland dog and her lncrssaut and pue-
rlle eXCamations OF terror, Indignation, and
spite, against the goUd-naiuryd brute, kept
up the sly, malicious smile upon the lips Of
his apparently unnoticiHg master. 'i'he
little Elri, Oh the contrary, had, 10 the IN
creased alarm OF the weak mother, made
friends with the monster, and for g long
time amused herself bv throwing bits OF
biscuit tor him to catch, which feat, not
wthstanding the incorrectness of her aim,
he managed to accomplish, by making n
bolsterous plunge to one side or the other
and when at last she timidy offered him a
piece out of her hand, and he acknowledged
the compliment by licking her face and
rubbing his side against her, until he al
most pushed her down, the little creature
fairly screamed with delight. Her mother
screamed too, but in one of the small, hvs-
tericai screams in which she was fond Of
indulging, and which was followed by an
outburSt ofanger at Lions audacity
''Good gracious" =" she exclaimed, 81
that horrid creature should be mad, bel
have killed my child How dirty he il
too Look at your palissc, Adeline; Sc,
what state it is in How dare you play
with that animal %
This transition from hydrophohia to
soiled dress, was too much for Lions mas
( ter, and he burst into loud and long laugh
81 wish, sir" said the lady, snappishIy
, ''that you would call away that nasty dog
instead of setting him on to annoy every
body who is not accustomed to have sucl
dirty animals about them"
The gentleman said nothing, but bowe
r aud walked forward and | soon after sav
him enjoying cigar, while Lion playe
5 the agreeable in his own rough fashion, t
5 people who knew how to read the expires
sion of his honest and intelligent ply ysiog
: nomy'
: Little Adelinp, deprived of the attracto
which had fixed her attention TO the insid
: of the boat, began to see amusement i
r watching the foaming water, as it rushe
= from the paddle wheels, and danced il on
' lines behind them. She knelt on a shaw
t which a fellow-passenger had lent, as
/ cushion for her little knees, and leane
: quietly over the side, watching the roarin
# water; so her mother was for time reli'
ved from the thousand moSquito-Winge
g vexations which had hitherto beset her.
d We were within q lew miles of Grav'
Is send. The tide was just at the full, an