Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-16


sHaven't you spoon in your establish
ment, my man?'
Tom made no reply, but rushed distract
edly out of the room, and running up to tht
coachman, cried out, 'stop Dempsey, fo
the love of heavenp'
Gail right !" says Dempsey, with twir
of his whip, gathering up the reins, ano
preparing to start-for we had all taken oul
places. - Fl, !. -.
''Tisn't all right. ! tell you, cried Tom
It'where are the spoons:"
"What spoons? Arrah don't be bother.
ing us, man sand we five minutes behind
time. joey, hold that off-leaders head, till
she goes on.a Bit,
BY this. time theemaster of the inn had
come out to learn what all the hubbub was
about. Tom, half blubbering, poor fellow,
made him acquainted with the fact, that all
his silver spoons had vanished. The land
lord cried out ''robbery!" the housemaids
screamed out "murder!" and variety oil
other EXPLANATIONS, too dreadful to contem-
plate. When silence was restored, the inn
keeper insisted on stopping the coach till
he ascertained if the report of Tom was
true. Ere many moments he returned, as
pale as a ghost, and said-f. ,
"Gentlemen, Pm sorry to trouble you ;
but l must beg you'll come down, till a
search is made for my property. Tom,
here. will swear that there was spoon in
every tea-cup this morning as usual-won't
you Tom :"
"Be dad I'll take my Bible oath of that
same, sure enough" replied Tom; "and
sure didn't swallow them"
The passengers all indignantly refused to
submit to the search proposed by the land
lord. An old lady inside went of in hys-
terics, when the innkeeper opened the door,
and proposed to turn her pockets inside out.
There was an officer with wooden leg,
on the box-seat, who swore, in the most
awful manner, that he would run the first
man through the body that attempted to lay
hand on him-by the way, he hadn't a
sword, but he forgot that in his fury
There was justice of the peace Tor the
county, who protested that he would COM
mt the host for contempt; and Dublin at
torney in the eatintimated his deter
mination to indict Tom, who had laid hold
of his leg, for an assault and, moreover,to
commence an action against his master Tor
defamation. As was but youngster then,
and the weakest Of the party, the landlord
chucked me down in twinkliag, and haul
ed me into the rarlour, half dead with
fright; and thereupon the rest of the pas
sengers, including the wooden-legged cap
tain scrambled down, and followed. deter
mined to make common cause and protect
me from Insult with their lives, if necessa-
ry. And now we were all again in the
breakfast-room, clamouring and remonstrat-
inc, while to add to the din, the guard kept
UP a, continual brattle with his. horn. All
this time the English gentleman was stead
ily prosecuting his work upon the eggs and
toast with cup Of tea before him, which
he was leisurely slipping, quite at his ease
like. So .,. ...a. -.
"What The duoe Is the matter !" said he,
looking up, "can't you let man take his
breakfast in comfort"
''The plate % said the master. l5.'l"~
The silver spoons !" cried the butler.
"Robberv !" shouted the mistress.
"Murder - &C., screamed the house
maids - ,,.. =,
"Search every one, demanded the hoast:
''come, let US begin with the young chap,
diving his hand into my breeches pocket.
II think" said the Englishman, coolly
','twould be as well first to search the prem
ises. Is the waiter long in your service =
"Fiftcen years last Shrovetde, and de-
fy any man to lay as much as the big OF his
nail to my charge"
By this time the English gentleman had
finished his breakfast. and, wiplng his
mouth most deliberately, he commenced to
search the room. He opened every drawer
of the sideboard, then he looked under the
table, then behind the windows shutters, bu
all IN vain. After that he stopped mo-
ment to reflect, when. bright thought
seemed to cross his mind.and he raised the
lid of one Of the teapots, but with as little
success as before nevertheless, he contlh
ued his examination of the teapots, ant
when he came. to,the last, what do yot
think, but he thrust in his hand, and drew
out first one spoon, and then another, til
he laid number of them on the tabt e,.7
Tom rushed up and began to count-"iwo
four. six" and so on, till at length he ex'
claimed
"May I never see glory, but they're al
right, every one. The Lord between Us
and harm, but this bangs all that ever
seen u
'I'll tell you what. my man. " said the
.o,t tlem.n lookino sternly at the aStonlsh
ed water, II strong lg suspect you have
been playing tricks upon you master. y
nice haul you'd have had Of it when thf
company had gone away ] don't like the
look of the fellow, tell you," he continu
ed addressing himself to the host; land i
It es.. sc7 5, thcc t..c fortunate circumstances o.
my coming in a little late and wanting. a
spoon.y on would have lost your property sir
You may count it lucky day that came
to your house"
The landlord was struck dumb with a,
mazement; even tie mistress hadn't "oro
to say, though she looked wickedly at poor
Tom, and The hotise- began to cry anu
bless themselves. :.
Gentlemen, proceeded The English
man, Il hope you will overlook the insult
YOU have received; as, after all, the lend
lord is not to be blamed and if he will IN
slst on this blackguard waiter making an
ample apology, will take upon me to say
for you all, that you will not take any pro-
ceedings,''
All cheerfully expressed their assent tothe
proposition except the attorney, who still
muttered something about assault and de-
famatioh, which SO terrified Tom that he
most humbly entreated pardon of the whole
company, though he still protested that he