Columbia gazette., 1854-01-28

chalked his hat to the last end Of all the
lakes. As for the ladies, there was no
fun in them; on the contrary, they would
keep giving moral lectures on playing
cards, and tell us how we ought to act
to make good husbands. To sum it all
up, they were real down east christians,
and headed by an old maid Of a Yam
kee, who would hardly sit on a chair
because it had the legs uncoycred-they
so managed to keep the boat as quiet
as meeting house.
Passenger after passenger got or
board, and among them we observed one
peculiar in appearance. As he was
getting aboard, and the steamer was
leaving the pier, those on the dock kept
merry: but it was all blind work to us.
That hombre, there was something inter
csting about i i'm, and after the boat
was under way, off We started to see who
he was. We travelled mostly over the
lower deck before we found him. He
was quite unwell, was complaining con-
siderably both Of his head and heels; in
fact he exhibited spiritual manifesto
tions. Twas all as clear as day-break.
IF we could only manage to get him
round near the ladies' cabin. then start
him up; we'd have time of it; one
that would cure them of lecturiny us a.
bout birthstone.
We had waited long enough for the
spirit to move them, and as soon as it
could be done we were determined the
spirit should move them. After tea we
commenced, the work went bravcly on:
we got him smuggled up and fixed so
there was no way he coul1 move out
without getting into the ladies' cabin
All right, we started round, sit down in
the cabin, so We could see the manmuv-
cring just as We were being benefited
by the lectures; "here he comes" says
Bob, for he had began to get wild, and
in the cabin he bounced, and the ladies,
such screaming "what was the matter:
was the boat on 6re;'' or any body over
board, thought every one. A rush was
made to the rescue; still they screamed
and screamed, and with their mingled
cries could be heard-"O! .Saaaes!,-
Snakes! take um out, take um out,
Snakes in my boots, take um out, take
um out'' And here was an hombre
with the "dcvil's trembles," bouncing
over the cabin foor on one foot, holding
up the other to keep from treading. on
the crawling creatures, and still hollow
ing, "take um out, take UNI out, take
nm out - If ever body of ladies were
horrifcd. it was them-they bounced
up on chairs, stools, tables, any where
to get ont ofthe way of snakes, and with
both hands were holding their dresses
tight to their ancles. At the cry of
''snakes in my boots,'' the tale was told
to all but them-and such time; some
pounced down in chairs, and stamped,
and stamped; others put their hands to
their sides and roared. As for US, we
were all down on the floor rolling AMI
roaring. We could not stand it.. The
unfortunate victim with the snakes in
his boots, was soon ushercd cut, and one
by one they bounced down from their
elevation, but still occasionally, the old
maid more nervous than the rest, would
give shrek, as the horrible idea of
snakes being about would strike her
mind, and then would follow another
round from stem to stern.
Snakes getting into gcntlemen's boots
was fully discussed-the monotony was
broken, and we had as much sport as
we all wanted for the balance of the
trip; but this was not all of him. The
following evening we sat watching the
silvery moon peep over the rim Of these
crystal waters, and were lost in contem-
plating the beauties of nature-not man;
We had had the s'beauties" of man
and although We had our pockets full
Of "wild OATS" we were quieted for
once, and our minds roaming amid the
starry heavens; all earth seemed ga vain
and empty show" when suddenly
voice was heard seeming to come from
Pluto's region, and crying 'I've got the
devil, I've got the devil" We knew
that snakes were about, but the idea
that the devil was, banged all. Well,
we had to hnnt him up and see whether
he was really captured or not. We
found him below decks-that is, the
man with sssnakes in his boots!" And
he had the devil sure enough, as far as
the horns went at least, for he lay sprawl
cd out at full length and holding an ev-
erlasting big OK by the horns, and still
following ''I've got the devil, I've got
the devil" Now what a mistake this
was, for the devil had him. Well, half
the world is just so, they think he is in
others, when at the same time the rea-
son they think so, is because they pos
sess more of him themselves.
Wall wo nrova;lod an . ~o~...k:o,