Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-11
Carrying Letter to the Governor.
By SAM sLICK, OF HALIFAx. Ms

Carrying Letter to the Governor.
BY SAM SLICK, OF HALIFAX, Ms
| got into an awful scrape once by
carrying a letter that had a wafer on it to
Sir Hercules Sampson, the governor that
used to he here a good while ago. I'll
tell you how it was, SO that you may see
1t ain because | don't want to oblige
You, tut just to keep out of scrape my
Self when know I'm well off. ra.f.
One fall, just as | was starting from
home for Halifax, in vessel loaded with
apples and cider l raised on my own
farm. and a matter Of five boxes of smoked
herrings which [ caught and cured my
self, who should come along but Pete
Balcom, with letter in his hand.
"Steve, says he, "just leave this at
Government House, will you, that's a
good fellow, as soon as YOU arrive in
town, and I'll do as much for you some
other time"
sCertainly," says ''but as my hands
are sort of dirty, do you take my pockeE-
book out of my jacket and stow it
away snug" and he did so. Well, one
day after | got to Halifax and unloaded
the vessel, as | was a.going along the
street with my working clothes on, who
should see a -galloping along from parade
but the governor and a couple of other
officers, with their spurs a jangling, and
their swords dangling, and their plumes
a-nodding, talking and alaughing away
like anything. Thinks l, I'll Just follow
on to Government House and give Pete
BalcOm's letter to one of his hired men.
So away | goes into one ofthe great stone
gates, and there was trees, and gravel
walks, and little bushes, and sort of
garden-looking place, and a great big
front door. So backed out and went up
the hill and turned into t'other gate, and,
as | am living sinner, there was another
garden looking place, and front
door there, too. Thinks [, goodness me,
where's the back porch that common folks
like me go into These places are only
meant for great men and office-seekers,
like our friend Broadcloth here. So [
took a circuit all around the house, till
came back to where [ started from, like
fellow lost in the woods, when | saw q
baker drive in. Come, says I to myself.
| IL ak no questions, for that looks as if
you did not know: but I'll Just follow
old Dough, for where the bread goes he
that raises the flour has right to 90 also
Well, out he jumps from his cart, and
takes basket of loaves on his arm, dives
1ou-,, bohio6 q, ;,o,, ,,o live o1oprc;Io ~
the street-door, and after him. Though
he knew the way and | didn't, [ kept
close up to him for all that for man
that can overhaul moose amt easy left
behind by a baker chap, tell you.
Well, we no sooner got into the lower
regions than Sixpenny Loaf lays down
his basket, up with his whip, knocks at
the door, and off like shot leaving nle
and the basket there.
"Hullo," said [, "Mister, deliver your
own freight yourself will you, if You
please it's enough for me to hand in
Pete Balcom's letter. And besides, l am
a stranger here" .... ... .
But crack went the whip, AID away
went the wheels: and the only answer |
got was, Come in So opened the
door, and there was little, thin old lady,
with spectacles on, and her two daughters
handsomely dressed. Mother was writing
in a big book that looked like merchant s
ledger, and the two young women were
making bit Of carpet with colored
| yarns, in small-sized quilting-frame-
thinks | to myself, | won't say nothing
about that trick the fellow played me
with the bread. If he don't choose to
stop for his pay, he may go without it
| So saws L
" Marin, I've letter for the governor,
that a neighbor Of mine, one Pete Balcom
asked me to leave here for him" and I
out pocket book and gave it to her, and
she handed it to one Of the gals, who
went out to hand it to some one else.
:. Take chair. and sit down. said old
mother, quite sociable-like. g Be so good
as to wait moment, perhaps his excel
lency the governor may have an answer
for YOU - and then she went on writing
as before
That must have been the house-keeper