Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-01-25
"reminiscences Of Travel.
NUMBER THREE.
For the Fayetteville Observs,

spectacle of the boat races and con-
siderable ramble over the city, ] felt
considerably like Claiming my at
tendance at the supper table, and 50
did. No sooner than seated, was
Intercepted by darkis with dish
and spoon in his hand, oyster soup
sa,' to which / nodded my assent.
thinking ] would try few mouthfuls
of the stiff anyhow. But as soon
as the savory smell met my o.
factories ] began to feel squeamish.
l thought, however, it would not do
to give it up without trial. So ia
king up one of the critters in my
spoon | went to work in real earnest.
! gave il parting grip between my
teeth as token Of my sincerity. and
down it went. Fearing lest Oysters
might take a rise / concluded to
change my diet. Calling servant
/ told him had concluded to take
something more substantial. I felt
as if ! had been chewing the raw end
of a soap-gourd, and thought that
perhaps it was an unfaverable time
to eat Oyster-soup. The servant
soon returned my plate with some
beef-steak and it was SO substantial
that ] soon agreed to let it alone,
concluding the animal had died Of
old age and that the time required
for it to get tender had been too long,
judging from the smell. During the
next day, in rambling about the city
| found the market-house with a con-
siderable number of buzzards perched
on its top. / made my visit short,
on account Of the disagreeable smell,
and thought it not strange that mel
low beef-steaks should come from
such a place.. / spent most of the
evening on the Common watching the
militia maneuvering with four
mounted brass cannons aad a COM
pany of footmen splendidly equipped.
/ returned about sun set and had the
pleasure Of meeting hundreds of the
Savannah beauties taking their
'evening walks The next morning
We were to take the steamer st.
Johns, for Pilatka, about 10 o'clock.
The morning was very boisterous and
the rain fell in torrents. The winds
we're high and we we're expecting a
stormy trip. The clouds we're lower
ing upon the bay, and the waves LASH
ing the wharf. Loud thunders rolled
over land and waters and swarms
of sea-gulls were lowering about the
city. We felt rather uneasy about
going to sea on SO unfavorable a
morning, but we could not promise
ourself better by waiting. The hour
having arrived we took an omnibus
and we're soon on the wharf in a
hard shower Of rain. Trunks and
baggage were all thrown out i'll pile
on the wharf from different stages
and omnibusses, and every man who
did not hayean umbrella had to stand
and get as wet as a drowned rat be-
fore. he could get his baggage on
board. After considerable wetting
and crowding about through the mud,
we succeeded in getting aboard, and
after getting around a hot stove We
soon began to feel more comfortable.
Asthe boat cleared the wharf and be-
gan to speed her way majestically
down the bay, I stepped out to take
a view Of the shipping on the right.
There lay hundreds Of ships Of every
size and make rolling lazily from side
to side as they lay at anchor or tied
to the wharf. Every thing looked
dreary. The misty clouds hung low
upon the water, and the restless
waves dashed the banks with fury
The winds blew, the thunders rolled, !
the rain fell, and We went in and took
a seat by the stove thinking "A life
on the ocean wave and a home on the
rolling deep" was not exactly what
some folks might imagine. In a
short time We were called in to lusch
where we ,devoured some chip-beef,
cheese, crackers, 'saur-crout,' and
other nic-knacks too tedious to men.
ton. After lunch ] began to notice
the crowd generally and see what
sort Of a crew We had on board
They seemed to be pretty clever
folks and / soon made myself known
10 several Of them. We conversed
very sgreeably until about twoI
o clock, when dinner was announced,