Litchfield enquirer., 1853-05-05
Story of 8 IIumOrIst.

S''eS'"ShSS NO SHuiA oIOuuN His servants are all admirably discipli> ned to second his whims, and his very furniture is, for the most part, adapted to the same purpose. This put me upon my guard and there was hardly any thing in the room that I did not touch with apprehension. No trick, however, was practiced upon me; and, as found subsequently, I was indebt- ed for such indulgence. to one which was reserved for me at night, and which was such as perhaps all my English phlegm would not have enabled me to bear with patience. I escaped, howev CT, being put to the proof, by the me- rest accident-the arrival of poor Scotch surveyor, who was thought fit. ter subject for the often repeated exper- iment. LIZ
 The Scotchman was treated with ex- treme hospitality. He was helped to every thing to excess his glass was never allowed to stand full or empty for one minute. The potations were sus> pended not until. and only while. the cloth was laying for supper. during and after which they were resumed with ren. ovated energy. Our entertainer was like the landlord described by Addison i; the liquor seemed to have no more effect upon him than upon any other vessel in. the house. It was not so with h:s Scotch guest, who was, by this time, much fur. ther advanced upon the cruise of intox> ication than half seas over.' ... .. In this state he was conducted to his cEamber-a fine lofty Gothic apart ment. with bedstead that seemed COG val with the building. I say seemed, for that was by no means the case, it being in reality modern piece of struc- ture. It was of dark mahogany, with its four posts extending mplelely 10 the ceiling of the chamber. The bed, however. was not more than two feet from the floor, the better to enable the party to get into it. The Scotchman, with good deal of assistance, was soon undressed. and had his body de. posted in this place of repose. All the parry then retired, wishing him a good night. and removing the candle for fear of accidents.
 When the door was closed, l was, for the first time. made acquainted with the structure of the bedslead, which ou, host considered as his masterpiece. Up, on the touching a spring. outside the door, the bed was so acted upon by pull ley Il hat it ascended slowly and smooth, y through tue foul posts, until it came within two or three feet from the cell, ing. he snoring of the Scotchman was the signal for the touching the spring. and he was soon at the proper altitude. a}
 The servants required no instructions how to act. At one moment the house was in an uproar; cries of fire fire ' were heard in different directions. A pile of shavings was set in blaze op- posite the window where poor Sawney slept. The landlords voice was contin- ually heard exclaiming, Good heaven 1! save the poor Scotch gentleman, if pos> sible; the flames have got into the the room just under him! ..t.
 At this moment we heard him fall and below out. A sudden silence tool place every light was extinguished and the whole house seemed to be buri ed in the most profound repose. The Sco,chman's voice could alone be heard roaring out, in the high dialect of his country for assistance.
 At length. two of ihe men servants m their shirts. entered the room, with ( candle just lit, and yawning as if iusl aroused fiom their first sleep. They found him sprawling on the floor.
 'Oh, dear, sir, what is the matter with you 2
 Matter! says he, why, isn't the house on fire 2
 Not at all, sir ..s
 'What was the reason of the cries O fire. then?'
 Bless you, sir. you must have beer dreaming: why. there's not so much a a mouse stirring. ard lis honor and tn, l whole family have been asleep these three hours.' 4 .'.s The Scoichman now gave up al credit in the testimony of his own sen ses.
 I must have been dreaming, indeed, and ha' hurt myself by falling out of the bed.'
 Hurt yourself, sir l--nol much. hope. the bed is so low;' and by this time tt had been made 10 descend % it's first level. "A
 The poor Scot was quite confused !; quite ashamed at disturbing the family ; begged thousand pardons. accom- pani. ed the servants to the door, closed il af. fer them, and was once more left in the dark. ...-......
 But the last act of the pantomine was not performed. The spring had been immediately touched upon closing the door. and the bed was soon bey ond the reach of our guest. We could hear him groping about. and uttering fre> quent ejaculalions of asiouishmenE. He a. stv, 0n T .R l. | .a