American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-26

There was not point in which you could oo)eet
~ honest ola J5bn Mudder Mine-Host OF the
ssWhite House"--for thus, periodically, he had
named his inn. 1t is not requisite TO mention
that the inn in question was two stories In
height built Of the sandstone peculiar to the
district and every window in front and else
where latticed, and FURNISHED like so many
mirrors-or that the house was white washed
without and sanded within; nor is it necessary
we should count the sparrows that are fitting
in and out under the shingled roof, or the doves
that are strutting and pluming themselves by
the dove-cote, behind one of the two gable
chimneys. With all these we have nothing to
do just now in fact with nothing about the tidy
little establishment but the merry party round
the clean-spread deal table in the best par
lori" where presides the most conspicuous
figure, in a huge old fashioned armchair, ourly
John himself, with all becoming dignity About
half dozen others, all young men between the
ages of eighteen and twenty-five, were ranged
to the right and left of mine-host, who, at the
instant we speak of, was in the act Of humping
the table smphatically with corkscrew which
he held in his hand. He struck the table vigor-
ously once or twice, and exclaimed,
"Well, boys, what say we--done?'
"Aye, DONE" echoed all, simultaneously.
" I'm to provide the eatables and drinkabes,
hey? They're going to be frst-rate you shan't
complain O. them the old oman can make MS
good cake or pie any pretty little mouth in
the village could wisa--that they knows and as
fur the black bottles, WY guess you can all
say good word fur them. - Then, without
allowing time for reply, mine-Gost continued:)
9 But tell you what, boys, don't think you
can get the young gals to go; they're so timid,
you know, poor things They re dreadful
skeered bout that Witch, as they calls her, up
there Mt Golding Gorge; an don't blieve all
ther pic mics in Their world could make em go
thar -
There's no harm in asking them, / suppose"
remarked tall, handsome youth, with long
rich brown hair, who sat nearly opposite old
John. John raised his head, and, looking him
steadily in the face with peculiar smile, said
slowly
"No-a, certainly not Mister Ed'n! there
amt no great harm in that; an think eff any
body stands a chance o. gittin EN- to 60, you
do, you know Jest you git that sweet little
angel O yourn to agree to go, and I'll bet
bottle O my prime ole beer there won't be one
O. the sugars II stay behind
"Hello! John, that amt fair" interrupted
one or two voices, as Edwin Berry, who had
just been addressed, colored to the temples.
stop, old fellow" continued another; s'wby,
you've made Neds cheeks the color Of your
nose, he bushes so !"
''No reflections on my nose, eff you please
Mister Harry" soid old John, good naturedly,
to the last speaker, :" Mister Edn don't mind
me bit !"
'Not bit" said young Berry, now quite
recovered, "not bit, as you say, John and
If you think | could prevail with Miss Bell to
go, I've no objection to try it,
five no doubt of it" said John; "an' now,
boys let's understand it. It's goin' to be reg
lar Pic ic-none O. your halfway things
ride in buggies an on horseback twenty good
miles-ther day after o-msrrow-dinner at 2,
supper at g."
That's it, " exclaimed all, laughing at Johns
precise mention of the hour of meals; and in
ten minutes after, the White House was de-
serted by the little party, and the preliminaries
arranged for revelation Of the mysteries of
Golding Gorge.
end of chapter ed