The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-01-12
LANCASTER Il, SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. JANUARY 1853

"Desert him!" circulated Middleton.
"why no' Didn't l girst love Maria N.Y.
self. and didn't he take her away from
niel My dear Swampey, want revenge;
you can help me to it"
III will, WILL" chuckled Swampey:
"but first the champagnel hel he YOU are
sure about the hour # saIlingm
"Quite sure; the stewards room and the
champagne" said Middleton.
Here both parties disappeared, and we
will leave them enjoying themselves over
a bottle of excellent Mamm, almost as
good, perhaps, as tie article which our
friend Glass, Of the Washington House,
furnishes his boardcrs, Middleton, as the
reader may guess, deceived Swampey,
both as to the time Of departure Of the
steamer, as well as to his true feeling, to-
warls Spencer. AS he may also guess,
the little meddlesone lawyer got fnnny,
and thought they wore merely trying the
engine, when the noble Georgia was under
full Roadway. At last certain qualmsh
feelings, very much Ike sea sickness, rous-
ed hun up, aided, as they were by con-
Niction that the vessel was in rapid mo-
tlon' lie looked at Middleton, and only
got an9sr ia return The truth flashed
upon him; he was on his rapid way to
Charges, with only ore change OF clothing,
and few dollars il hi, pocket. What
should he dol lie sought on deck, look
ing fearfully wild. lie sought out the
captain, but got no satisfaction. Thel.
came Oh dreadful seatickness, from which
he suffered awfully; tie mere, perhaps, be-
cause Middleton and Spencer prescribed
for him rich bowls Of oX-tail SOUP, with
Junks of fat thrown In to make it more
palatable. Nobody took pity on him but
one little dried-up old maid, and n fellow
who boasted that he had written many
first rate articles for fhshy weekly papers,
about private citizens lie was now on
his way to San Francisco, to seek his for
tune; in other words, he was leaving home
for homes good. Th.sediabolical friends
gave him small comforts in the midst of
his terrible retchingi, during which he
frequently thought he was throwing HIM
self inside out. The dd maid had money,
and after much persuasion, had cashed
cheek for him, to put him in funds; for be
1T known Swampey had means, and took
care always to keep them in a safe place,
in the vaults Of a good spccc-paying
bank. He saw sickness, if not death, be-
fore him at Chagres. The fever was rag
ing there fearfully, Middleton and Spencer
told him, and lie would certainly catch it
in his weakened state. Horrors! thought
swampey, to die of tho Chagres fever, a.
way oil from home and kindred, and to
be buried, perhaps, bypegroes. Imagine
AZ isss, nc steamerIeached Chagrcs
and Swampey was assisted into n boat,
for the shore, more dead than alive. His
little eyes looked like two dirty glass beads
set in solid yellow flannel; his hair was
matted with filth, his clothes were dirty
and torn, and he was quite as disgusting
a looking object as it is possible to ina,
gine. AS the boat containing his flabbv
flesh and mhinged joints, was rowed
ashore, he heard voices from little steam
or bound up the river, shout TO him,
Good bye, Swampey," followed by an
other, soft flute-like yoi,e, Good bye,
Swampey." ~