Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-01-31
4 SMALL TOUCH AT AN OLD JOKER
Ry "uNCLE SOLON.

DEAR MAJOR-10u nave uhuouoteois i9o'
Porter's account of his visit year or two slnc'
10 Montreal, but did you see any thing about
his introduction to the mayors Of course you
did not, because that is one of the things that
he did not choose to tell; butt will. This
same editor of the Spirit OF The Times, Is
ready enough with crack at us outside bar
barians, but has carefully concealed the follow
ing good one upon himself, which l fished up
during my visit in Canada last summer, and
which propose to let out OH thr Old Joker by
way of new years gift to his hlshhess-
Next day, after his arrival, and before lie had
fully cot the hang of the town, he had been
ont TO dine with a few friends, and, as a mat
ter of course, had inbbed little fluid during
the sitting, which was extended TO that degree
that his companions were not exactly III con-
diton to see linn to his hotel, and therefore he
undertook to steer his own boat through the
dark and narrow streets of that ancient town,
without pilot As the log book Of the trip
is a little Llurred a,n not able to make out
chart of the roate he traversed, but after some
hours of wandering he came to dead stand,
uui,e unable to get the bearings of any known
landmark that would assist him in getting safe
into port Seeing a lamp post that seemed to
be constantly going somewhere, he concluded
TO mike fast to it, and trust to luck that it
would tow him into port, or somewhere else.
OF course it never occurred to him that he was
drunk. but he did feel lawful like" least he
might he tuck mp MS a suspicious indiridual and
furnished with gratuitous lodging in place
he might not care to mention alter he had re-
turned to New York.
While holding on to his fast friend, without
getting on very fast, he spied another late
walker who was evidently approaching, not
wtilstandng he appeared to be doing it upon
4 series of curative circles.
Making virtue Of necessity, he determined
to hail the stranger, and take him as pilot
so as he came up, our "tall son Of York" put
himself upon his best breeding, and accosted
the gentleman with apilots request to be d'.
rected to Donegana's Hotel.
"Ccrtainly, cir, as you seem to be stranger
in the city; or, will call watchman TO ac-
company you.
Not caring to have the company of the lat
ter. he declined that part Of the offer, but he
said he should feel proud Of having the couA-
pany of the geu.ln'an himself
"Sir," says the gentleman, am not much III
the habit OF wati e upon convivial gentlemen
at this late hoLr, unless have the honor OF Il
previous acquaintance. May | inquire your
name, slr!'
This was poser-to be caught OIL late was
bad enough: to have to own up was awful.
But what was he to do! So Strengthening
himself up till his hat was about se>en feet
above his boots, he replied, 'oir, il was III
New York, | should say my name was For
tcrp'
"porter" says the other, looking up at his
extreme height, Porter what, the editor of
the Spirit of the Times"
eyes, sir, Porter, of the Sprit-now, be.
Ieve little :pri .lized, but not qaite spiritual
cnou. n to find my way out OF these crooked
place; which perhaps may appear 4 little
more crooked in consequence OF the excellent
qualities of Il Montreal dinner"
"sir, am very happy to meet you Allow
me to take Your arm. lwill1walt upon You to
your lodgings. | am very well acquainted
with tuis city, and no watchnlan will accost
you while in my company, assure you"
His new friend appeared TO be very socla-
| bic, clever GLOW, and to know all about c
editor and his paper; aud although Porter's
ewes were not very clear, he could not help
noticing that every watchnan they met paid
unusual marks of respect to him.
This Induced our tall friend to show off a
little, and among other things he mentioned
that in the morning he intended to call upou
the Mayor, to whom he had letters of intro.
duct;ou, and whom he would not like should
know that he was indebted to a stranger for
rilotine him through the streets the night be-
fore. In this great precaution he begged his
com,spion not to mention the circumstance to
his honor, if he happened to know him, to
Which tie other readily agreed. Ot course be-
fore parting, Porter was anxious to know who
his new friend mi. lit be, and was very nearly
lifted out of his boots, when, i'll answer TO his
question, he received the reply, "Sir, am the
Mayor Of Montreal"
Heavens! what a fall was there The dig
nity of the intended meeting on the morrow
had all been knocked overheard by midnight
Introduction. while holding on to lamp post,
dreading the chance OLA night in the watch
house perhaps, or at least fearing the Mayor
might be informed, by some watchman' that he
had been oged to learn very tall gentleman
rrom Now York. the way to his lodgings ut Il