The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-31

'o"u. = ihlehacd also, SAID he, and he
was IN the act Of again laying aside that
everlasting hat and cane, when cry of fire
IN the neigbborhocd, and the smell Of the
burning raIters attracted him into the street
where, as feared lie escaped nnhurt. In
many respects fires are caamities; but
never saw a more forcible cxemplifcation
Of Shakspenre's remark, sThere is some
spirit Of good in things evil than in the re-
llef afforded me on the present occasion.--
| wrote, after that, with my door locked -
This ! knew was from tho confined air,
prejudicial to my health; but wh,t was dys
pepsia or consumption to that little hard fac.
ed old gen'eman--to those breeches--lo
that broad brimed hat--to those buckles
to tha. gold-headed cane?
Remember, Peter said |. the second
morning after the foregoing, i have gone
OUT
'Wbere have you gone? inquired Peter,
With grave simplicity. They always ask
me where you have gone, sir. The little
man with the hat was here last night, and
wanted TO 90 nftcr you'
'Torbid it Heaven! have gone to Al
banv, Peter, on business
can bear in my room pretty much what
passes in the adjoining one, where visitors
first enter from the street. had scarcely
got comfortably seated, in rare mood for
poetry, giving the last touches to a poem,
which, whatever might be the merits ofBy-
ron and Moore, did net think altogether
Indifferent, when heard the little old gen.
tleman's voice inquiring for me.
i must see him; have important busi-
ness il said.
'Ile has gone out replied Peter, in an
under tone, in which | could detect the
consciousness that he was utteriug boun-
Ger.
But mast see him. said The voice.
The scoundrel! matered |.
'ile is not in town, SIR said Peter.
Il will not detain him single minute. -
1t is of the greatest Importance. lie
would be very sorry, rery, should he miss
me-
held my breaih--there was n pause--l
gave myself up for lost-when Peter repll
ed firmly:
'Hc is in Albany. sir; went eli at five o.
clock this morning.
BE back soon?'
Don't know
'fl call tomorrow
heard his retreating footsteps, and in.
wardIy resolved 10 give Peter haIf-dollar,
although he deserved to be horsewhipped
for bis readiness at deception. | laughed
aloud triumphanlly, and slapped nv hand
down upon my knee with the feelings Of
fugitive debtor, who hotly pursued by .
sherifl's officer, escapes over the line into
another county. and snaps his fingers al
Monsieur Bailif. was aroused from my
mood of reverie by touch on my shoulder.
turned suddenly. 1t was the hard-faced
little old gentleman, peeping in from the
street. His broad brimed hat and two
thirds Of biz face were just lifted above the
window.sill He was evidently standing
on tip-toe; and the window being open, he
put aside the curtain, and was soliciting my
attention with the end of his cane.
sAhn. said he SIS ii you? Well, thought
il was you, though wasn't sure. ! won't
interrupt you. Here are the proofs OF num-
Der thirteen; you'll find something glorious
in that--iust the thing for you-dont for
get me next week-good bye. III see you
again in day or two
shall not cast gloom over my readers
BY dwelling upon my feelings. Surely,
surely, there are sympathetic bosoms among
them. To them lappeal. said nothing,
Few could have detected anything violent,
or extraordinary ia my manner, az | took
the proofs from the end of the little old
genilcman's cane, and laid them calmly on
The table. did not write any moro about
virtue that morning. 1t wns out OF the
question. Indeed, my mind scarcely re-
covered from the shock for several days.
When my nerves are in any way irrlla-
ted, find walk in the woods soothing
aud agreeable sedalive. Accordingly the
next alternoon, | wound up the affairs OF
the day ear'ier than usual, and set out Tor
a ramblc through the groves and along the
shore of Hoboken. was soon on one OF
the abrupt activities, where, through the
deep rich foliage Of the INTERVENING branch
es. | overlooked the Hudson, the wide bay,
ard the suberb, steeped city, stretching in
level line of fmagnificence upon the shin
inc waters, sollened with an overhangng
canopy OF thin haze. | gazed at the pic
ture. and contemplated the rivalry OF ma
lure with art, striving which could most de-
light. As my eye moved from ship to ship,
from island to island, and from shore to shore
bow reposing on the distant blue, then
revelng in the nearer luxuriance osthe Tor
es, green, heard n step in the grass, and
a little raggedi fellow came up and asked me
il was the editor Of the --. ! was a
bout replying to him ailirmatively, when
his words arrested my attention. "A little
gentleman with hat and cane he SAID,
had been enqurng for the editor, &c, al
the adjoining hotel, and had given him SIX,
pence to run up into the woods and hnd
him. flushed precipi,ately, as | thought,
into the thickest rccesses of the wood
The path, however, being very circuItous
suddenly came into it, and nearly ran a,
yainst person whom it needed no second
glance to recognize, although his back was
luckily toward me. The hat, the breeches,
the cane, were enough. If not, part OF
,od covorad namphlet sticking ont OF the