New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-16

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mothers sigh and look as if all was over with
them, and the young ladies appear extremely
Disguised, and wonder "what business wo-
men have to be travelling round with babies"
To these troubles succeeds the turning out
scene, when the whole caravans elected into
the gentlemens cabin that the beds may be
made. The red curtains are put down, and
in solemn silence all the last mysterious prep
arations begin. At length it is announced
that all is ready. Forthwith the whole COM
pany rush back, and find the walls embel-
lished by series of little shelves about a
foot wide, each furnished with a mattrass
and bedding and hooked to the ceiling by
suspiciously slender cord Direful are the
nominations and EXPLANATIONS of inexpe-
rienced travellers, particularly young ones, as
they eye these very equivocal accommoda-
tons. "What sleep up there won't sleep
on one of those top shelves, know The
cords will certainly break" The chamber
maid here takes up the conversation, and
solemnly assures them that such an accident
is not to be thought of at all, that it is
natural impossibility-a thing that could not
happen without an actual miracle; and
since it becomes increasingly evident that
thirty ladies cannot all sleep on the lowest
SHELF there is some effort made to exercise
faith in this doctrine, nevertheless all look
on their neighbors with fear and trembling
and when the stout lady talks of taking a
SHELF she is most urgently pressed to change
places with her alarmed neighbor below.
Points of location being after while ad-
justed, then comes the last struggle. Every
body wants to take off their bonnet, to look
for their shawl, to find their cloak to get
their carpet bag, and all set about it with
such zeal that nothing can be done. "Ma'am
you're on my foot" says one. "Will you
please to move, ma'am," says somebody, who
is gasping and struggling behind you
"Move," you echo.
"Indeed, should be very glad to, but
don't see much prospect of it."
Chambermaid," calls lady, who is strug.
Cling among heap of carpet bags and chill.
dren at one end of the cabin. "Ma'am,'
echoes the poor chambermaid, who is wedged
fast in a similar situation at the other
"Wheres my cloak chambermaid -
) "fd find it maam, if could move"
"Chambermaid, my basket"
"Chambermaid, my parasol!"
"Chambermaid, a glass Of water."
Mamma, they push me so T"
Hush, child crawl under there and Ii,
still till | can undress you"
At last, however, the various dstresses are
over-the babies sink to sleep, and even that
much enduring being, the chambermaid
seeks out some corner for repose. Tired anc
drowsy, you are just sinking into dose, wher
l bang goes the boat against the sides of I
! lock-ropes scrape, men run and shout, anC
a up fly the heads of all the top-shelfites, VIII,
are generally the more Juvenile and fairy par
of the company.
"Whats that what's that" flies from
mouth to mouth and forthwith they proceed
to awaken their respective relations.
another! Aunt Hannah! Do wake up
!! What is this awful noise u
"Oh, only lock f"
e "Pray, be STILL" groan out the sleep
d members from below.
"a lock-" excaim the vivacious creatures
y ever on the alert for information, "And wha
is lock- pray!"
: "Don't you know what lock is you sill,
y creature9 Do lie down, and go to sleep"
1t "But say, there ant any danger in lock
G is there? respond the querists.
T danger! exclaims deaf old lady, pok
u ing up her head, what's the matter! Their
u ha'n't nothin burst, has there u
e NO no, mol" exclaim the provoked an
n despairing opposition party, who find tina
e there is no such thing as going to Sleep til
g they have made the old lady below, and tn
l. young ladies above understand exactly tn
g philosophy of a lock.
* After while the conversation again sui
:" sides. Again all is still-you hear only tn
Us trampling of horses and the ripping of tn
rope in the water, and sleep again is stealth
l. over you. You doze, you dream, and all
le sudden you are started by cry, "Chan
IN bermaid, wake up the lady that wants to b
IS set ashore ~
te Up jumps the Chambermaid, and up jumr
II the lady and two children, and forthwith
form committee of inquiry as to the way
" and means
70 "Where's my bonnet?" says the lad
re half awake, and fumbling among the vario,
articles of the name. ~ thought hung
&c up behind the door,
~ Cant you find it 2" says the poor chan
~ bermaid, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
'n "Oh, yes, here it is says the lady, ar
Ut then the cloak, the shawl, the gloves, Il
'ss shoes, receive each separate discussion
~ last all seems ready, and they begin to mo
re off, when 10. Peters cap is missing!
"Now, where can it be !n soliloquizes Il
IL lady, 81 put it right here by the table lei
's may be it got into some of the berthsn
3D. At this bright suggestion the chamberma
- = takes the candle, and goes round deliberate
We to every berth, poking the light directly
Gu the face of every sleeper.
~ "Here it is, perhaps" she exclaims, pu
81 ing at something black under one pillow
af "No, indeed, those are my Shoes" So
l.. the vexed sleeper.
IL l. L.